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2004 SESSION

047862284
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 314
Offered January 26, 2004
Commending the Virginia National Guard.
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Patrons-- Cox, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Baskerville, Bell, Black, Bland, Brink, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Melvin, Miles, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Stump, Suit, Tata, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Weatherholtz, Welch and Wright; Senators: Bell, Blevins, Bolling, Chichester, Colgan, Cuccinelli, Deeds, Devolites, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Houck, Howell, Lambert, Locke, Lucas, Marsh, Martin, Miller, Mims, Newman, Norment, O'Brien, Obenshain, Potts, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Rerras, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Ticer, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins, Whipple and Williams
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WHEREAS, the federal mission of the Virginia National Guard is to provide trained and equipped units to augment the active Army and Air Force during times of war, national emergency, or Presidential selected reserve call-up; and

WHEREAS, in addition, the Virginia National Guard provides units to assist civil authorities in protecting life and property and preserving peace, order, and public safety during periods of natural or man-made disaster; and

WHEREAS, since September 11, 2001, the Virginia National Guard, consisting of the 7,500 soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard and the 1,200 airmen of the Virginia Air National Guard, has played an increasingly vital role in protecting the nation and pursuing the war on terror; and

WHEREAS, units of the Virginia National Guard have deployed in support of operations devoted to homeland defense (Operation Noble Eagle), the war on terror outside of the United States (Operation Enduring Freedom), and coalition operations in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom); and

WHEREAS, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, members of the Virginia National Guard served in Afghanistan and Kuwait; and

WHEREAS, several Virginia National Guard units deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, as a vital part of the nation's homeland defense, many units of the Virginia Army National Guard and the Virginia Air National Guard were called to active duty and stationed across the country; and

WHEREAS, the soldiers and airmen of the Virginia National Guard provided valuable service to the Commonwealth, assisting in flood recovery operations in May 2002, helping local officials in the Valley cope with severe winter weather in February 2003, and, most recently, providing support in recovery operations following Hurricane Isabel in September 2003; and

WHEREAS, at the height of the Hurricane Isabel recovery operations, more than 1,100 soldiers and airmen of the Virginia National Guard worked to clear roads, distribute badly needed ice and water, assess damage, and provide security and traffic control assistance; and

WHEREAS, the men and women of the Virginia National Guard, whether working to make America safer at home, fighting the global war on terror, or helping Virginians recover from natural disasters, serve their nation and their Commonwealth with great courage, dedication, and devotion to duty; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,400 men and women of the Virginia National Guard presently are deployed away from their homes and families, many in areas with great personal risks and many at great personal and financial sacrifice; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the soldiers and airmen of the Virginia National Guard; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Major General Claude A. Williams, Adjutant General of the Virginia National Guard, as an expression of the admiration and gratitude of the General Assembly and the people of Virginia.