00            CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4(STA) am                                                            
01 Declaring February 2002 to be African-American Citizen Recognition Month.                                               
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal,                                  
04 that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that these rights include the right to                       
05 life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; and                                                                         
06       WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature would like to recognize and show                                           
07 appreciation to the state's citizens of African-American descent; and                                                   
08       WHEREAS there are approximately 27,617 persons of African-American descent in                                   
09 the state; and                                                                                                          
10       WHEREAS Alaska citizens of African-American descent have made important                                         
11 contributions to the state by participating in the building of the Alaska-Canadian Highway,                             
12 the Alaska Railroad, the Trans Alaska Pipeline System, by serving in the government of the                              
13 state and contributing to the state in all facets of the private sector; and                                            
14       WHEREAS Alaska citizens of African-American descent have served with                                            
15 distinction in the Alaska National Guard and in the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air                              
16 Force, Coast Guard, and Revenue Marine Service, and Alaska citizens of African-American                                 

01 descent continue to participate in the military defense of the state;                                                   
02       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests the                                      
03 governor to declare February 2002 to be African-American Citizen Recognition Month; and                                 
04 be it                                                                                                                   
05       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature respectfully requests and                                    
06 encourages all public and private agencies and citizens of the state to observe African-                                
07 American Citizen Recognition Months with appropriate activities and to continue to promote                              
08 unity among all the races that have made Alaska the great state that it is.