HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 56

(By Delegates Sobonya, Speaker Armstead, Ambler, Anderson, Arvon, Ashley, Azinger, Bates, Blair, Boggs, Border, Butler, Byrd, Campbell, Canterbury, Caputo, Cooper, Cowles, Deem, Duke, Eldridge, Ellington, Evans, A., Evans, D., Faircloth, Fast, Ferro, Fleischauer, Folk, Foster, Frich, Gearheart, Guthrie, Hamilton, Hamrick, Hanshaw, Hartman, Hicks, Hill, Hornbuckle, Householder, Howell, Ihle, Ireland, Kelly, Kessinger, Kurcaba, Lane, Lynch, Manchin, Marcum, McCuskey, Miley, Miller, Moffatt, Moore, Morgan, Moye, Nelson, E., Nelson, J., O’Neal, Pasdon, Perdue, Pethtel, Phillips, L., Pushkin, Reynolds, Rodighiero, Rohrbach, Romine, Rowan, Rowe, Shott, Skinner, Smith, P., Smith, R., Sobonya, Sponaugle, Stansbury, Statler, Storch, Trecost, Upson, Walters, Waxman, Weld, Westfall, White, B., White, H. and Zatezalo)

Encouraging all West Virginians to observe Red Shirt Fridays, as a reminder to all of the courage, honor and sacrifice of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and the families who hold them dear.

            Whereas, Red Shirt Fridays is a campaign encouraging Americans to wear red each Friday and was organized as a show of support for our troops and to acknowledge that the burdens, dangers and sacrifices of fulfilling America’s military obligations around the world have fallen to an extremely small percentage of Americans and their families; and

            Whereas, Many Americans have served multiple tours of duty in harm’s way, at great cost to themselves and to their families; and too often, in the hectic swirl and frantic pace of modern life, many Americans have overlooked and under-appreciated the service and sacrifice of those who fight our battles around the world; and

            Whereas, The origin of Red Shirt Fridays was initiated sometime in 2005 in the United States and has spread to Canada as well; and it is hoped that the color red symbolizing the blood shed by American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines in battle reminds all Americans of their courage and sacrifices; and

            Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper that Americans should be reminded on a regular basis that thousands of American military personnel, and their families, endure, and have endured, great hardship on behalf of our Country and their fellow citizens; and

            Whereas, “Red Shirt Fridays” on which Americans are urged to wear red shirts, vests and jackets as a reminder to themselves and all who see them of the American military forces currently serving in harm’s way around the world, and of the families who also serve and sacrifice, awaiting the return of their service men and women to them, has been urged as a weekly day of remembrance by groups and individuals throughout the nation; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Legislature encourages all West Virginians to observe Red Shirt Fridays, as a reminder to all of the courage, honor and sacrifice of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines and the families who hold them dear.