07 LC 96
2681
Senate
Resolution 596
By:
Senators Murphy of the 27th, Mullis of the 53rd, Douglas of the 17th, Hooks of
the 14th, Whitehead, Sr. of the 24th and others
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
Georgia volunteers of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Georgia is the home of the fourth largest port on the Atlantic east coast, over
350 miles of intercoastal waterways, 20 major inland lakes, five major rivers,
and thousands of miles of smaller rivers; and
WHEREAS,
hundreds of our fellow Georgians volunteer more than 15,000 hours each year to
assist the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Georgia
Department of Natural Resources in accomplishing missions of recreational
boating safety and Coast Guard support with Maritime Homeland Security and other
challenges that have emerged as a result of growing changes required in the
post-9/11 era; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is home to the Seventh Coast Guard District, Divisions 2 and 10, and the
8th Coast Guard District, Flotillas 81 and 83; and
WHEREAS,
these members contribute valuable time, talent, and resources in the area of
harbor and inland lake safety patrols, vessel safety checks, safe boating
courses, search and rescue, and marine environmental protection; Auxiliary Air
Squadron Coast Patrols; Crew Augmentation to USCG Air Station Savannah, USCG
Station Tybee, USCG Cutter Tarpon, and USCG Station Brunswick as Radio Watch
Standers, Boat Crew, Engineer, Cutter Crew, and Cutter Rescue Swimmer;
and
WHEREAS,
while boating is a marvelous source of recreation to all Georgia citizens, it
can be a risky sport to those who are not properly prepared; and
WHEREAS,
members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary devote thousands of hours to training
in order to better prepare the recreational boating public to be more aware of
navigation rules and obey the nautical "rules of the road";
and
WHEREAS, of particular importance in the overall boater education mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Membership each year is to reduce the loss of lives of drowning victims who are not wearing a life jacket; and
WHEREAS, of particular importance in the overall boater education mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Membership each year is to reduce the loss of lives of drowning victims who are not wearing a life jacket; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia Volunteer Members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary were credited during
2006 with five lives saved, more than $500,000.00 in property saved, and more
than 200 public education classes given, approximately 2,000 vessel safety
checks, and countless hours in harbor and inland lake safety
patrols.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize
the Georgia volunteer members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and
commend their tireless service as the civilian component of the United States
Coast Guard and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit appropriate copies of this resolution to the District 7 and District
8 Commodores of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.