HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2001-4678, by Representatives Rockefeller, Haigh, Woods, Orcutt, Buck, Ballasiotes, Casada, Lantz, Sommers, Jackley, Simpson, Eickmeyer, Jarrett, Talcott, Fromhold, Veloria, Ogden, Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Armstrong, Ballard, Barlean, Benson, Berkey, Boldt, Bush, Cairnes, Campbell, Carrell, Chandler, Chase, Chopp, Clements, Cody, Conway, Cooper, Cox, Crouse, Darneille, DeBolt, Delvin, Dickerson, Doumit, Dunn, Dunshee, Edwards, Ericksen, Esser, Fisher, Gombosky, Grant, Hankins, Hatfield, Holmquist, Hunt, Hurst, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Linville, Lisk, Lovick, Lysen, Mastin, McDermott, McIntire, McMorris, Mielke, Miloscia, Mitchell, Morell, Morris, Mulliken, Murray, Nixon, O'Brien, Pearson, Pflug, Quall, Reardon, Roach, Romero, Ruderman, Santos, Schindler, Schmidt, Schoesler, Schual‑Berke, Sehlin, Skinner, Sullivan, Sump, Tokuda, Upthegrove, Van Luven and Wood

        WHEREAS, It is the tradition of the Washington State House of Representatives to honor those who serve in our armed forces, risking their lives to protect our own and our nation; and

        WHEREAS, Two Bremerton-based Navy vessels, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the fast combat support ship USS Sacramento left Washington on July 23, 2001, anticipating one hundred eighty days of routine deployment to implement a no-fly zone over southern Iraq; and

        WHEREAS, The unconscionable terrorist attacks on our country September 11, 2001, changed the length of deployment; and

        WHEREAS, After the attacks, the USS Carl Vinson moved into position in the North Arabian Sea near Afghanistan and set up for a safe-keeping mission that may have been the most arduous in this ship's history; and

        WHEREAS, The USS Carl Vinson stayed on station longer and undertook extraordinary defense actions, and had a crew and air wing of six thousand committed men and women who worked twelve to fifteen hours a day, seven days a week; and

        WHEREAS, The first efforts to serve and protect our nation from future terrorist attacks came from the USS Carl Vinson; and

        WHEREAS, The USS Sacramento provided the critical support that the USS Carl Vinson needed to carry out its security assignment; and

        WHEREAS, As naval forces from the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Canada, Italy, and Japan arrived in the waters off Pakistan, the USS Sacramento became one of the most significant assets restoring our nation's hope for safety, completing a total of one hundred sixty-eight alongside replenishments with forty-three different ships, transferring more than thirty-four million gallons of fuel and thousands of pallets of food, stores, parts, and mail; and

        WHEREAS, Practically every gallon of fuel used by, and all defense actions taken to protect our citizens, from a USS Carl Vinson jet came from the USS Sacramento; and

        WHEREAS, After seventy-three days in support of "Operation Enduring Freedom," in addition to more than one hundred days at sea elsewhere ‑ and after traveling 51,343.2 nautical miles, the equivalent of more than two times around the world, the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Sacramento are headed home this month; and

        WHEREAS, Those on board the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Sacramento are heroes and an inspiration to others; and

        WHEREAS, All residents of Washington appreciate their dedication and the sacrifices they have made for the good of us all;

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives recognize the selfless service of the officers and crews of the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Sacramento and welcome them home; and

        BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Captain Steven R. Kremer, Commanding Officer of Naval Station Bremerton, Captain Richard B. Wren, Commanding Officer of the USS Carl Vinson, and Captain J.D. Cloyd, Commanding Officer of the USS Sacramento.

               I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

               4678 Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

                                  January 18, 2002.

                            _____________________________

                            Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk