00                       HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8                                                                     
01 Expressing support of Alaska Army National Guard soldiers deployed worldwide.                                           
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS Alaska has more than 250 Alaska Army National Guard soldiers on                                         
04 active duty, and approximately 170 of those soldiers are currently deployed overseas, many of                           
05 them involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom; and                                            
06       WHEREAS 67 Aviation Battalion soldiers recently returned from nearly a year in                                  
07 Kosovo; and                                                                                                             
08       WHEREAS additional deployments of soldiers to Operation Iraqi Freedom and                                       
09 Operation Enduring Freedom are planned; and                                                                             
10       WHEREAS approximately 80 National Guard soldiers are on duty in Alaska working                                  
11 with the National Missile Defense security mission at Fort Greely, and another 36 soldiers                              
12 have just completed two years of duty securing Kulis Air National Guard Base; and                                       
13       WHEREAS active duty for these National Guard soldiers involves spending a great                                 
14 deal of time away from their homes and families; for example, Alaska Army National Guard                                
15 soldiers involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom generally                                   
16 spend an entire year overseas, with an additional six months of mobilization, training, and                             

01 demobilization time; and                                                                                                
02       WHEREAS each of these National Guard soldiers has a civilian life, a family, and a                              
03 role in the community as well, and service overseas requires considerable personal sacrifice as                         
04 well as support from families, friends, employers, and the community; and                                               
05       WHEREAS National Guard soldiers are employed in all sectors of Alaska's economy;                                
06 as civilians, they are mechanics, truck drivers, cooks, business managers, small business                               
07 owners, pilots, fishermen, accountants, police officers, fire fighters, mill workers, salespeople,                      
08 and public employees; and                                                                                               
09       WHEREAS National Guard soldiers live in all areas of the state, from Metlakatla to                              
10 Barrow, from Kotzebue to Togiak, and in Kodiak, Kenai, and Kake;                                                        
11       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature commends the bravery,                                          
12 dedication, and willingness to serve of each individual in the Alaska Army National Guard,                              
13 particularly those who have been, are, or will soon be deployed overseas; and be it                                     
14       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature recognizes and                                               
15 appreciates the personal sacrifices made by these soldiers in order to serve, as well as those of                       
16 their families, employers, and communities; and be it                                                                   
17       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature commends the families                                        
18 and friends of these soldiers and recognizes their unwavering support; and be it                                        
19       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature expresses its heartfelt                                      
20 support of these soldiers as they carry out their missions, and wishes each of them success in                          
21 these important endeavors and a safe return home.                                                                       
22       COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Major General Craig E. Campbell,                                     
23 Adjutant General, Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs and Commander of the                                     
24 Alaska Army National Guard; Lieutenant General H. Steven Blum, Chief, National Guard                                    
25 Bureau, United States Department of Defense; and the Honorable Ted Stevens and the                                      
26 Honorable Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senators, and the Honorable Don Young, U.S.                                              
27 Representative, members of the Alaska delegation in Congress.