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2001 SESSION


SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 500
On the deaths of the crew members of the USS Cole.

Agreed to by the Senate, February 15, 2001
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2001

WHEREAS, on October 12, 2000, the USS Cole was the target of a terrorist attack that occurred in the port of Aden, Yemen; and

WHEREAS, the USS Cole, a member of the Mid-Atlantic Battle Group of the United States Atlantic Fleet, was based at the Naval Station Norfolk prior to its deployment that so tragically ended when the destroyer was the target of terrorist attack; and

WHEREAS, a number of the sailors serving on the USS Cole and their families were from the Hampton Roads area or resided in the Hampton Roads area; and

WHEREAS, 33 sailors assigned to the USS Cole recuperated from injuries sustained in the terrorist attack at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital; and

WHEREAS, 17 sailors stationed on the USS Cole were killed as the direct result of the barbarous and cowardly act of terrorists; and

WHEREAS, killed in action on the USS Cole were Hull Maintenance Technician Second Class Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, Electronics Technician Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, Signalman Seaman Cherone Louis Gunn, Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, Engineman Second Class Marc Ian Nieto, Electronics Warfare Technician Second Class Ronald Scott Owens, Seaman Lakiba Nicole Palmer, Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, Fireman Patrick Howard Roy, Electronics Warfare Technician First Class Kevin Shawn Rux, Mess Management Specialist Third Class Ronchester Manangan Santiago, Operations Specialist Second Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis, Ensign Andrew Triplett, and Seaman Craig Bryan Wibberley; and

WHEREAS, those sailors killed and their shipmates are patriots and heroes who stand for the most cherished values of this Commonwealth and nation; and

WHEREAS, the shipmates, families and citizens of the Commonwealth will hold forever the memory of the 17 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while in the service of their country; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby mourn the deaths of the 17 crew members of the USS Cole; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the crew of the USS Cole as an expression of the high esteem in which the memory of their fallen shipmates is held by the members of the General Assembly and the people of Virginia.