hr1486.html

06 LC 97 0479

House Resolution 1486

By: Representatives Yates of the 73rd, Lakly of the 72nd, Freeman of the 140th, Warren of the 122nd, Jennings of the 82nd, and others

A RESOLUTION

Commending Georgiás National Guard troops; recognizing February 22, 2006, as National Guard Day; inviting Major General David Poythress to appear before the House of Representatives; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, in the past year, more than 4,000 Georgia Army National Guard members have served on active duty in support of the Global War on Terrorism, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern locations as well as at military bases across the United States; and

WHEREAS, members of Georgiás 3rd Infantry Detachment were among the first to deploy into hostile territory, serving alongside their active duty counterparts at the "tip of the spear" during the ground war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, the 116th Air Control Wing at Robins Air Force Base flew more than 200 combat sorties in the sophisticated Joint STARS aircraft in direct support of ground operations, providing commanders with valuable real-time battlefield information; and

WHEREAS, Kennesaẃs 190th Military Police Company and Monroés 178th Military Police Company were called to active duty twice in support of the war on terrorism; during its second deployment the 190th conducted operations in Iraq providing presence patrols and security missions; and

WHEREAS, the 165th Airlift Wing from Savannah deployed to Southwest Asia to support Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and during its initial deployment, at the height of the ground war, flew more than 3,000 sorties supporting operations across the Middle East and Europe; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Army National Guard́s 265th Engineer Group, 878th Engineer Battalion, 221st Military Intelligence Battalion, 277th Maintenance Company, 1148th Transportation Company, and Company B 161st Medical Battalion have all been called to active duty and are serving valiantly and proudly in Iraq, Afghanistan, and on other foreign soils; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Air National Guard́s 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron, 283rd Communications Squadron, 165th Air Support Operations Squadron, and 117th Air Control Squadron all deployed citizen-soldiers to fight the Global War on Terrorism; and

WHEREAS, some 1,300 Georgia National Guard members have been called and have served at military bases across the United States as part of Operation Noble Eagle and are protecting lives, property, and resources; and

WHEREAS, Georgiás 4th Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) remains on 24 hour alert to respond to any incident involving the use of weapons of mass destruction; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard continues to add value to the State of Georgia and communities through its Youth Challenge Academy, the STARBASE program, the Counterdrug Task force, and its ongoing State Partnership with the Republic of Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia State Defense Force, the third leg of the Georgia Department of Defense, continues to provide trained volunteers to backfill in critical areas for Georgia Guardsmen called to active duty.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body wholeheartedly commend Georgiás National Guard troops as they risk and sacrifice their lives for the safety of Americans at home, its citizens abroad, and the native citizens of foreign countries they protect and recognize February 22, 2006, as National Guard Day.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Major General David B. Poythress, Adjunct General of Georgia, is invited to the House of Representatives for purposes of being recognized by the House and receiving an appropriate copy of this resolution on behalf of the Georgia National Guard at a date and time to be fixed by the Speaker of the House.