WHEREAS, Throughout the history of this great nation, young men and women have been called upon in times of great crisis to defend the personal liberties that are the bedrock of America. Whenever the call to arms has been raised, the citizen-soldier has never failed to step forward an place himself and all he holds dear in jeopardy for the protetion of the nation; and

WHEREAS, Whether it was the Minutemen at Concord and Lexington or other gallant warriors at Gettysburg, the Marne, Bastogne and Midway, the Yalu River, DaNang, Panama or most recently, Iraq, brave American soldiers, sailors and airmen have placed themselves in harms way to defend their beloved homeland; and

WHEREAS, When the fighting ends and these genuine heroes return, some in great need of medical attention, the nation all too often forgets their noble sacrifices and moves on to other pursuits. Sadly, many veterans come to spend years in hospitals as a result of their military service or for inquiries occurring later in life; and

WHEREAS, It is only right and just that we, the beneficiaries of their valor and commitment to duty, honor these splendid men and women who have given so much that we might enjoy the fruits of freedom; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby acknowleges its debt to America's veterans, especially to those fine men and women who have been hospitalized as a consequence of their military service, by recognizing February 12-18 as National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. Our debt to these brave men and women is one that can never be redeemed; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.