WHEREAS, The annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival is a cherished tradition for the people of Pierce County and the Northwest; and
     WHEREAS, The mission of the Daffodil Festival is to focus national and regional attention on our local area as a place to live and visit, to give citizens of Pierce County a civic endeavor to "rally 'round" fostering civic pride, to give young people and organizations of the local area an opportunity to display their talents and abilities, to give vent to their enthusiasm in parades, pageantry, and events, and to stimulate the business economy through expenditures by and for the Festival and by visitors attracted during Festival Week; and
     WHEREAS, 2003 marks the Seventieth annual Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival; and
     WHEREAS, The Festival began in 1926 as a modest garden party in Sumner and grew steadily each year until 1934 when flowers, which previously had been largely discarded in favor of daffodil bulbs, were used to decorate cars and bicycles for a short parade through Tacoma; and
     WHEREAS, The Festival 2003 events are ongoing and will culminate in the April 12, 2003, Grand Floral Street Parade, winding its way from downtown Tacoma through the communities of Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting; and
     WHEREAS, This year's Festival royalty includes princesses Holly Swan, Spanaway Lake High School; Angie Voiles, Sumner High School; Courtney Thetford, Bethel High School; Jamie Huish, Curtis High School; Ashley Blake, Lakes High School; Delia Orosco, Henry Foss High School; Kristin Stoehr, Franklin Pierce High School; Holly Milender, Rogers High School; Kristine Eugenio, Clover Park High School; Nicole Stevens, Wilson High School; Mariah Mayne, Eatonville High School; Lindsay Zenkner, Emerald Ridge High School; Melinda Ray, Puyallup High School; Cassi Crossley, Fife High School; Megan Loflin, Stadium High School; Miriah Jewell, Orting High School; Babylyn Aspuria, Mount Tahoma High School; Tabitha Halstead, Washington High School; and Mika Meusburger, Lincoln High School;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That on March 12, 2003, the Washington State Senate recognize and honor the many contributions made to our state by the Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival and its organizers for the past seventy years; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the 2003 Puyallup Valley Daffodil Festival Officers and to the members of the Festival Royalty.