THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MILLER, ADOLPH, BAKER, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOBACK, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, COX, CUTLER, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, M. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD, MILNE, MOUL, MUNDY, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATERS, WATSON, MARSICO, FAIRCHILD, QUINN, BENNINGHOFF, ROCK, DERMODY, CREIGHTON, CONKLIN AND HARPER, OCTOBER 9, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 9, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating October 17, 2009, as "Military Family Day" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, There are approximately 56,000 active duty military,

National Guard, Air National Guard and Reserve personnel in

Pennsylvania, not including persons who choose to leave distant

military bases to return to extended families during military

deployments; and

WHEREAS, There is a large contingent of Federal civil service

employees who work and reside in Pennsylvania and who volunteer

or are directed to serve overseas in support of the war on

terror; and

WHEREAS, More than 5,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen

from the 28th Combat Aviation Brigade were deployed to Iraq, and

this Commonwealth has already begun to see a return of some of

these soldiers and airmen, but the majority will return home in

the coming months; and

WHEREAS, The deployment of these Pennsylvania National Guard

units to Iraq represents the largest National Guard deployment

during wartime since World War II; and

WHEREAS, Families of persons serving in support of the war on

terror make untold and anonymous sacrifices every day on behalf

of their husbands, wives, sons and daughters and endure extended

deployments of their loved ones; and

WHEREAS, Military family members make their homes throughout

this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, These persons often lack support systems and access

to facilities available to military families living on or near

major military bases; and

WHEREAS, Although this Commonwealth and its communities have

extended overwhelming support to deployed military members, many

people are unaware that military families with unique needs

reside in their communities; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has a very large veteran and retired

military population whose families merit recognition for their

past sacrifices; and

WHEREAS, It is right and proper to express appreciation for

the sacrifices of these families; and

WHEREAS, All Pennsylvanians should reach out to help military

families during their difficult separations; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October

17, 2009, as "Military Family Day" in Pennsylvania.