H-5120              _______________________________________________

                                           HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL NO. 4046

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1988 Regular Session

By Representatives Vekich, Zellinsky, Sayan, Meyers, Pruitt and Schmidt

Read first time 2/16/88 and referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, AND THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

          We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

          WHEREAS, The state of Washington has enjoyed a relationship of cooperation and mutual respect with the United States Navy for many decades, based upon the quality of the state's harbors which have sheltered many naval vessels in the adjacent communities in the state, the roles played by workers and businesses in the construction and repair of naval vessels over many years, the cooperation between the state and the Navy regarding the many naval facilities in the state, and the respect felt by the citizens of the state for the Navy in its defense of the sea lanes and of the nation's security in times of war and peace; and

          WHEREAS, The state and its communities have served as the home of naval vessels in peace time and during periods of conflict, and strong attachments have grown between people in the communities and the naval vessels stationed in those communities; and

          WHEREAS, Following a long service in battle and on the high seas, the battleship U.S.S. Missouri, the ship upon which a surrender took place that ended World War II, the bloodiest conflict the world has known, found a home in this state in the city of Bremerton, where citizens from around the country and around the world were able to visit and tour the battleship, and a strong attachment grew in the hearts of citizens for the vessel; and

          WHEREAS, The U.S.S. Missouri has been given a chance to serve an active role again on the high seas, having been rehabilitated and restored to service in the defense of this nation; and

          WHEREAS, The Navy has sought to base the U.S.S. Missouri on the west coast, and has sought to base the vessel in the city of San Francisco, California; and

          WHEREAS, Basing of the vessel in the city of San Francisco has divided the citizens of that city, and the support of the city and its citizens for the U.S.S. Missouri being in San Francisco is weak and uncertain;

          NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and Congress of the United States, the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the United States Navy take action to base the battleship U.S.S. Missouri in the city of Bremerton in the state of Washington for the duration of its active life, and that after the battleship is decommissioned, the vessel remain in Bremerton, to again serve as a symbol of the nation's triumph over adversity in war and strength during times of peace.

          BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the State of Washington, the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the United States Navy.