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2014 SESSION

14105304D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 468
Offered March 3, 2014
Commending Master Trooper Gene E. Ayers.
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Patrons-- Austin; Senator: Carrico
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WHEREAS, Master Trooper Gene E. Ayers, a dedicated law-enforcement professional with the Virginia State Police, has made many outstanding contributions to Virginia’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program; and

WHEREAS, Gene Ayers, a native of Clifton Forge in Alleghany County, graduated from Alleghany County High School; and

WHEREAS, Gene Ayers began his distinguished career with the state police in 1982, and upon graduating from the Virginia State Police Academy, has proudly served the Commonwealth while assigned to the areas of Woodford, Ruther Glen, the Town of Bowling Green, and Botetourt County; and

WHEREAS, Master Trooper Ayers is respected for his superior commitment, integrity, and highly professional leadership of Virginia’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program, a comprehensive, statewide drug and violence prevention education initiative aimed at children in kindergarten through 12th grade; and

WHEREAS, in 1996, Master Trooper Ayers began his close association with the D.A.R.E. program as a regional coordinator; offering exceptional guidance and masterful planning, he rose to become the statewide coordinator; and

WHEREAS, during his impressive tenure and leadership of the D.A.R.E. program and through his training of more than 1,500 D.A.R.E. officers over the years, Master Trooper Ayers has been instrumental in the advancement and development of the program in countries worldwide; and

WHEREAS, Master Trooper Ayers is the only law-enforcement officer in the world to achieve all coveted state and national D.A.R.E. awards, including the 2003 Virginia State D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year, the 2008 National D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year, the 2009 Virginia Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2013 National Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor no one else within the D.A.R.E. program has received; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Master Trooper Gene E. Ayers for his outstanding service as a Virginia State Trooper and for his unwavering, steadfast commitment to the children of the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Master Trooper Gene E. Ayers as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for his extraordinary achievements with the Virginia State Police.