HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2002-4732, by Representatives Reardon, Gombosky, Morris, Quall, Ruderman, Cooper, Berkey, Hatfield, Sehlin, Sullivan, Dunshee, Simpson and Holmquist

      WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize and honor the contributions of national leaders who have served our country with a high degree of excellence; and

      WHEREAS, United States Senator John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936, the son and grandson of prominent Navy admirals; and

      WHEREAS, John McCain graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958 and served in the Vietnam War; and

      WHEREAS, John McCain was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and held as a prisoner of war for five and one-half years; and

      WHEREAS, John McCain earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, Purple Heart, and Distinguished Flying Cross for his service to America during the Vietnam War; and

      WHEREAS, John McCain was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1982 and to the United States Senate in 1985; and

      WHEREAS, United States Senator John Kerry was born in Denver, Colorado, at Fitzimmons Military Hospital where his father, Richard, a volunteer in the Army Air Corps was serving during World War II; and

      WHEREAS, John Kerry volunteered for combat duty service in Vietnam after his graduation from college and was an officer on a gunboat in the Mekong Delta; and

      WHEREAS, John Kerry earned the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and three awards of the Purple Heart for his heroism in combat; and

      WHEREAS, John Kerry was elected to the United States Senate in 1984; and

      WHEREAS, Senators McCain and Kerry have worked tirelessly throughout their Senate careers to help our Nation's veterans and help America heal from the wounds of Vietnam, by pushing for treatment of veterans suffering the fall-out of Agent Orange and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, and through an unprecedented investigation to determine the fate of Americans still missing in action in Vietnam; and

      WHEREAS, Senators McCain and Kerry have worked in a bipartisan way to improve United States-Vietnamese relations; and

      WHEREAS, Senators McCain and Kerry have been true champions to the thousands of veterans here in Washington state and around the country, fighting for improved health care, benefits, and treatment of veterans;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize and honor John McCain and John Kerry as great patriots who have served this great Nation throughout their lives, fighting for veterans; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Senator John McCain and Senator John Kerry.

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

4732 Resolution adopted by the House of Representatives

March 12, 2002.

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Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk