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2011 SESSION
WHEREAS, the courageous soldiers and airmen of the Virginia National Guard have made outstanding and valuable contributions to the defense of the United States and the security of the Commonwealth and have advanced the cause of freedom around the world; and
WHEREAS, these same soldiers and airmen have put themselves in harm’s way, fought bravely, made great sacrifices, and provided an example of selfless service for all the citizens of the Commonwealth and the nation; and
WHEREAS, the Governor welcomed home more than 560 soldiers from service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo and sent more than 125 for service in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, the following units have completed remarkable deployments and successfully returned from active duty in 2010: the Lynchburg-based 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment; the Virginia Beach-based 229th Military Police Company; the Sandston-based Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion; the Manassas-based 266th Military Police Company; the Blackstone-based 134th Chaplain Support Team; and the Richmond-based 276th Engineer Battalion; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Air Guard successfully deployed almost 160 airmen in 2010 from the 192d Fighter Wing, 203d RED HORSE Squadron and 200th Weather Flight to Afghanistan, Djibouti, Guam, Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, McMurdo Station Antarctica, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates; and
WHEREAS, more than 300 Virginia Guard personnel, including the Army Guard, Air Guard, and the Virginia Defense Force, were on duty to support the inauguration of Governor Robert F. McDonnell as the 71st Governor of Virginia; and
WHEREAS, in July, Virginia Guard soldiers and airmen were part of Joint Task Force-National Scout Jamboree, providing a variety of support including weather forecasting, merit badge counselors, and musical entertainment for Scouts at Fort A.P. Hill; and
WHEREAS, the Military Funeral Honors Program performed more than 2,000 funerals at cemeteries throughout the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia National Guard conducted a comprehensive five-day simulation exercise to focus training on the Guard’s ability to respond to homeland security threats and work with state and federal emergency agencies; and
WHEREAS, soldiers from the Virginia National Guard’s 29th Infantry Division and 116th Brigade Combat Team provided communications capability support to the Washington, D.C., National Guard security task force for the President’s Nuclear Security Summit; and
WHEREAS, Virginia Army National Guard soldiers anticipated the needs of the Governor and were able to rapidly mobilize on state active duty to stage and ready for possible post-storm recovery operations when Hurricane Earl made its way up the East Coast in September; and
WHEREAS, the all-volunteer Virginia Defense Force continues to be integrated into every major operation conducted by Virginia National Guard and to train arduously to provide support to the citizens of the Commonwealth and to embody the spirit of selflessness; and
WHEREAS, the Counterdrug Program provided support to state and federal law enforcement resulting in more than 34,000 marijuana plants being confiscated, more than 580 arrests, and the seizure of more than $125 million in narcotics, currency, and weapons; and
WHEREAS, since 1994, the Virginia National Guard's Commonwealth ChalleNGe Youth Academy has intervened in the lives of at-risk youth to produce over 3,450 responsible and productive citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia National Guard strives to be the premier, relevant, rapid response force, manned, equipped, and trained to respond to federal and state requirements and prepared to deploy as directed by the Governor to assist state and local authorities to protect life and property and preserve peace, order, and public safety; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia National Guard and its dedicated soldiers, airmen, and civilian employees for their devotion to duty and many outstanding and valuable contributions to the defense of the United States and the Commonwealth; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Major General Daniel E. Long, Adjutant General of Virginia, on behalf of the patriotic soldiers, airmen, and civilian employees under his command as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude for their dedication to the citizens of the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.