H-0545.1

HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4002

ByRepresentatives Dent, Paul, Barkis, Nance, Entenman, Orcutt, Klicker, Mena, Shavers, Dufault, Ormsby, Springer, and Timmons

TO THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION, AND TO THE HONORABLE JULIE MEREDITH, SECRETARY OF THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, AND TO THE WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION:

We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military award given "For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty"; and

WHEREAS, Less than one-tenth of one percent of America's service members have been awarded the Medal of Honor, with 34 known recipients accredited from Washington state; and

WHEREAS, Washington has an inherent tie to its veterans having become a state on November 11, 1889, which also became Armistice Day in 1919, and Veteran's Day in 1954; and

WHEREAS, Washington's people proclaim its deep gratitude for the supreme service of our nation's Medal of Honor recipients; and

WHEREAS, Interstate 90 is an east-west transcontinental highway that starts in Seattle and ends in Boston that is used by people from all over the United States, thus a proclamation along its corridor would be viewed by millions of people; and

WHEREAS, The Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River is an impressive facility of importance to the country placed in a majestic setting;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Washington transportation commission commence proceedings to designate the bridge that carries Interstate 90 over the Columbia River near Vantage, Washington as the "Medal of Honor Bridge" as a way for the state to show respect and remember medal of honor recipients.

BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Washington State Transportation Commission, the Honorable Julie Meredith, secretary of the department of transportation, and the Washington State Department of Transportation.

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