WHEREAS, Children are indeed our most precious and irreplaceable
national and natural resource, possessing as they do the hopes and
dreams for the future of our communities, our state, and our nation;
and
WHEREAS, Each and every child in Washington brings joy and purpose
to our lives, for it is in the lives of each and every one of the
children in the Evergreen State that we will forever find our dearest
treasure; and
WHEREAS, On Children's Day in the House of Representatives, we pay
special esteem and tribute to the young people in our communities,
recognizing their standing and stature in our homes, schools, and
neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, We must forever stand whole-heartedly committed to
nurturing our children as they grow, preparing them for adulthood, and
cultivating their own unique and meaningful dreams for the future; and
WHEREAS, By our own examples we can and must instill in our young
people a strong and unyielding sense of worth and self-esteem, so that
they have every opportunity to become meaningful and productive members
of our society; and
WHEREAS, Parents, families, and fellow citizens play crucial roles
in forming a youngster's character, and we hold both the duty and the
privilege to ensure that all children grow up in a safe and healthy
environment with sufficient food, appropriate shelter, quality health
care, and a world-class education; and
WHEREAS, It is our goal and mission to empower children so that
they will embrace the future with courage, intelligence, and wisdom,
and to equip children with skills necessary one day soon to lead our
society; and
WHEREAS, This body since 1995 has observed Children's Day as a very
special and very appropriate honor and celebration of Washington's
children; and
WHEREAS, Oliver Wendell Holmes once noted that, "Pretty much all
the honest truth-telling there is in the world is done by children";
and
WHEREAS, Fyodor Dostoyevski once observed that, "The soul is healed
by being with children"; and
WHEREAS, Ralph Waldo Emerson once pointed out that, "There never
was a child so lovely but that his parents weren't glad to get him to
sleep"; and
WHEREAS, Bart Simpson once asserted that, "I don't know why I did
it, I don't know why I enjoyed it, and I don't know why I'll do it
again";
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
celebrate the children of the State of Washington and encourage all of
its citizens to celebrate children on Children's Day and throughout the
year by spending more time with them, by emphasizing their special
place in our lives, and by working together to strengthen the
foundation today upon which they will build and sustain their tomorrow.