scr202 intr

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 202
(By Senators Boley, Deem, Tomblin, Mr. President, Bailey,
Bowman, Caldwell, Chafin, Dempsey, Edgell, Facemyer, Fanning,
Guills, Harrison, Helmick, Hunter, Jenkins, Kessler, Love,
McCabe, McKenzie, Minard, Minear, Oliverio, Plymale, Prezioso, Ross, Rowe, Sharpe, Smith, Snyder, Sprouse, Unger, Weeks and White)

Recognizing the courage and endurance of Private First Class Jessica Lynch as an American prisoner of war during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Whereas, Jessica Lynch of Palestine, West Virginia, the daughter of Gregory and Deadra Lynch, is a graduate of Wirt County High School; and

Whereas, Jessica Lynch, who has dreams of becoming a teacher, joined the United States Army soon after graduation; and

Whereas, PFC Jessica Lynch is based at Fort Bliss, Texas, the home of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company; and

Whereas, In February, 2003, the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company was deployed with the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

Whereas, On March 23, 2003, PFC Jessica Lynch and other members of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company were ambushed after taking a wrong turn while traveling in a convoy near Nasiriyah, Iraq; and

Whereas, While five of the members of the missing 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company were displayed on television by the Iraqi government, the status of PFC Jessica Lynch and nine others was unknown. Listed as missing in action, the Lynch family, her community and the entire State of West Virginia shared agonizing concern for her safety and well-being; and

Whereas, On April 1, 2003, news of the rescue of PFC Jessica Lynch by coalition special operations forces from an Iraqi hospital spread around the world and into the hearts of millions; and

Whereas, The town of Palestine, Wirt County and all of West Virginia celebrated at the news of the recuse of one of their own; and

Whereas, Sadly, it was learned that the nine missing members of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company did not survive the ambush and paid the ultimate price for freedom with their lives; and

Whereas, On April 13, 2003, the five members of the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company who were displayed on television as prisoners of war by the Iraqi government, along with two other American POWs, were found by U. S. forces and safely returned to coalition-controlled territory; and

Whereas, As PFC Jessica Lynch recovers from wounds received in Iraq, all of West Virginia follows her recuperation and prays for her continued recovery and subsequent return to West Virginia; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby recognizes the courage and endurance of Private First Class Jessica Lynch as an American prisoner of war during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature, along with a grateful nation, celebrates the safe return of PFC Jessica Lynch from those who held her captive in Iraq; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Legislature expresses its heartfelt best wishes for the speedy recovery of PFC Jessica Lynch, a dedicated American who has distinguished herself in service to her nation; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to PFC Jessica Lynch and her proud parents, Gregory and Deadra Lynch of Palestine, West Virginia.