Military Appreciation Day

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 26-1004

BY REPRESENTA TIVE(S) Duran and Caldwell, Bacon, Barron, Boesenecker, Bottoms, Bradfield, Bradley, Brooks, Brown, Camacho, Carter, Clifford, DeGraaf, English, Espenoza, Feret, Flanell, Froelich, Garcia, Garcia Sander, Gilchrist, Goldstein, Gonzalez R., Hamrick, Hartsook, Jackson, Johnson, Joseph, Keltie, Lindsay, Luck, Lukens, Mabrey, Martinez, Mauro, Nguyen, Paschal, Phillips, Richardson, Ricks, Rutinel, Sirota, Slaugh, Smith, Soper, StewartK., StewartR., Story, Suckla, Taggart, Titone, Valdez, Willford, Winter T., Woodrow, Woog, Zokaie, McCluskie; also SENATOR(S) Ball and Frizell, Amabile, Baisley, Bright, Carson, Catlin, Cutter, Danielson, Exum, Gonzales J., Hinrichsen, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Kolker, Lindstedt, Liston, Michaelson Jenet, Mullica, Pelton B., Pelton R., Rich, Roberts, Rodriguez, Snyder, Wallace, Weissman, Zamora Wilson, Coleman.

CONCERNING RECOGNITION OF THE MILITARY, VETERANS, POW/MIA, AND GOLD STAR FAMILIES.

WHEREAS, Colorado has a proud and distinguished history of dedicated military service by men and women whose courage, heroism, and sacrifice preserve the liberties and democratic way of life set forth in our state and federal constitutions; and WHEREAS, Colorado benefits greatly from the presence and military service of the more than 47,000 men and women in our state who serve in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard; the branch Reserves; the Colorado National Guard; and the Civil Air Patrol; and

WHEREAS, Colorado is home to a significant number of military installations, including Fort Carson, the United States Air Force Academy, Buckley Space Force Base, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, and Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, that contribute not only to the national security of our nation but to the economic health of our state; and WHEREAS, The service members of the Colorado National Guard have served in defense of our nation and as the first military responders in support of civil authorities during domestic emergencies and are celebrating their 166th anniversary this year; and WHEREAS, Disparate and diverse groups of Coloradans, such as persons who are African American, Native American, Latino or Latina, or Hispanic, in addition to men and women of all backgrounds, are bound together in the Armed Services by their selfless dedication to the spirit of our nation, the ideals of freedom and democracy, and the cause of democracy and stability around the globe; and WHEREAS, In addition to active members of the United States Armed Services, Colorado is the proud home of more than 340,000 military veterans who have served their country long and well and who bring great honor and distinction to the state. Colorado is home not only to active duty service personnel and veterans but also to the countless family members of these service members who display the same dedication, courage, and sacrifice; and WHEREAS, Colorado, along with the rest of our great nation, is especially indebted to the American soldiers who have died in battle and military conflicts and to their families, known as Gold Star Families,. who have endured these losses and the accompanying grief; and WHEREAS, Gold Star Families were named for the practice of families hanging service banners in the windows of their homes, with a star for each family member serving in the Armed Forces: Deep blue stars were displayed for each living member serving, and they were replaced with gold stars if the loved one was killed in action serving our country and protecting our freedom; and

WHEREAS, While national monuments and memorials serve as strong visible reminders for the service members who risked their lives in service to our nation, Gold Star Families are a living legacy of each fallen soldier and can help us all remember and honor these heroes by name; and WHEREAS, The acts of heroism and courage of fallen soldiers, service members from Colorado declared missing in action, and prisoners of war are forever remembered in the minds and hearts of their families, and we should never forget the uncommon sacrifices made for us by these service members while defending the principles of liberty and justice in conflicts around the world; and WHEREAS, In this time of conflict, it is particularly appropriate to recognize the Coloradans in all branches and components of the Armed Services who have served and are currently serving to protect the security and peace of our nation and other nations; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth Genera/Assembly ofthe State ofColorado, the Senate concurring herein: (1) That we, the members of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly, hereby extend our heartfelt gratitude to our state's veterans, past and present; to all members of the military currently serving in the Armed Services; to the family members of active duty personnel and veterans; and to our Gold Star Families and that we remember and honor prisoners of war and those missing in action from previous conflicts; (2) That we express our continued partnership with and support of Fort Carson and maintain our strong commitment to supporting ongoing military training at the Mountain Post; and (3) That we encourage the citizens of Colorado to join in the celebration of Colorado's military, veterans, POW/MIA, and Gold Star Families in recognition and honor of the thousands of fellow citizens in the military who protect and serve their communities, state, and country.

Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to President Donald J. Trump; Governor Jared Polis; Maj. Gen. Robert Davis, Adjutant General of Colorado, Executive Director of the

Department ofMilitary and Veterans Affairs; Carol Thomas, Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Colorado; the American Legion of Colorado; the Colorado Board of Veterans Affairs; the United Veterans Coalition of Colorado; the commanders of Colorado's active military bases; the Pikes Peak Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.; the Denver Chapter of Gold Star Wives of America, Inc.; the Colorado chapters of the Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc.; the Paralyzed Veterans of America Mountain States Chapter; the Broomfield Veterans Museum; the Wings Ovet the Rockies Air and Space Museum; and each member of Colorado's Congressional delegation.

Julie McCluskie SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

James Rashad Coleman Sr. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE

Vanessa Reilly CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Esther van Mourik SECRETARY OF THE SENATE