Florida Senate - 2020 (NP) SR 1926 By Senator Wright 14-03217-20 20201926__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution honoring the Florida National Guard and 3 recognizing March 3, 2020, as “Florida National Guard 4 Day” in Florida. 5 6 WHEREAS, as the military arm of the Governor and the people 7 of this state, the Florida National Guard stands ready in times 8 of crisis or emergency to immediately respond to a call from the 9 Governor, and 10 WHEREAS, the Florida National Guard traces its lineage back 11 455 years to 1565 when the first muster of a civilian militia 12 took place in St. Augustine, making Florida’s militia the oldest 13 in the nation, and 14 WHEREAS, today’s Florida National Guard stands strong with 15 approximately 11,000 of the best soldiers and airmen this nation 16 has ever known, and 17 WHEREAS, the men and women of the Florida National Guard 18 and their families willingly make sacrifices during times of 19 hurricanes, fires, floods, and other natural disasters, serving 20 domestically and around the world in contingency operations, and 21 WHEREAS, more than 21,000 men and women of the Florida 22 National Guard have answered the call to federal active duty, 23 without reservation, following the attack on our nation on 24 September 11, 2001, serving with distinction and honor during 25 Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and 26 Operation New Dawn, and 27 WHEREAS, many of these dedicated men and women continue to 28 serve in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, 29 Operation Inherent Resolve, and Operation Observant Compass, 30 which continue to take them from their families and friends 31 while they ensure that we are safe at home, and 32 WHEREAS, the employers and families of those serving in the 33 National Guard have made significant sacrifices to conduct their 34 businesses and support their households, respectively, during 35 the absence of these men and women, with employers providing 36 them jobs when they return home, and 37 WHEREAS, the men and women of the Florida National Guard 38 remain involved in hundreds of community service projects across 39 the state each day while preparing for their federal duty, 40 protecting the citizens of this state during emergencies, and 41 contributing to local programs that enrich the lives of the 42 people of this great state and nation, NOW, THEREFORE, 43 44 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 45 46 That the Florida National Guard is honored and that March 47 3, 2020, is recognized as “Florida National Guard Day” in 48 Florida.