Navy service members

WHEREAS, The Washington State Senate has always acted to honor 1
those who have served and are serving our country as members of the 2
United States military; and 3
WHEREAS, The United States Navy was officially created by 4
Congress in April 1798, and has its earliest roots in General George 5
Washington's Continental Navy, which he formed in 1775 to defend the 6
American colonies from British attack; and 7
WHEREAS, 2025 marks 250 years that the United States Navy has 8
served the nation, operating every day with allies and partners, 9
defending the rules-based international order, and ensuring the 10
security of maritime trade routes; and 11
WHEREAS, Washington State-based Navy personnel and assets 12
regularly deploy around the world to deter aggression, ensure freedom 13
of the seas, and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief 14
in times of need; and 15
WHEREAS, Over generations, the communities that neighbor 16
Washington State Navy installations were established, grew, and 17
prospered alongside the Navy; and 18
WHEREAS, Washington State Navy installations support two aircraft 19
carriers, seven surface ships, 13 submarines, and 160 aircraft; and20
WHEREAS, The United States Navy has been operating regularly in 21
Pacific Northwest waterways since 1841 and continues to maintain a 22
presence in Washington State to include four major Navy installations 23
SENATE RESOLUTION
8612
By Senators Wagoner, Salomon, MacEwen, Lovick, Valdez, Trudeau, Dhingra, Holy,
Torres, Fortunato, Boehnke, McCune, J. Wilson, Muzzall, Warnick, Braun, and King
p. 1 8612
– Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Naval Station Everett, Naval Base 1
Kitsap, and Naval Magazine Indian Island; and 2
WHEREAS, The United States Navy continues to strengthen the 3
community. Washington State Navy installations provide more than 4
82,000 jobs and infuse approximately $15,000,000,000 each year into 5
Washington State's economy, contributing to socioeconomic stability; 6
and 7
WHEREAS, Washington State is home to approximately 25,000 active 8
duty service members, 3,600 reservists, 20,100 civilian employees, 9
more than 2,400 contractors, and 42,000 family members, many of whom 10
live off base and contribute to the health and vibrancy of Washington 11
communities; and 12
WHEREAS, Washington State Navy personnel have worked in 13
partnership with various organizations to improve salmon recovery, 14
support southern resident orca recovery, conserve energy and water, 15
conduct and invest in marine species research, restore and protect 16
critical habitats from development, mitigate ocean acidification, and 17
invest in renewable energy; and 18
WHEREAS, Six United States presidents served in the United States 19
Navy in World War II alone before they led our nation, including John 20
F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy 21
Carter, and George H.W. Bush; and 22
WHEREAS, Former Governor Dan Evans served in the United States 23
Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946 and again during the 24
Korean War from 1951 to 1953; and 25
WHEREAS, Many members and staff of the Washington State 26
Legislature have served in the United States Navy and many Navy 27
veterans have gone on to serve their country in political office 28
around the country; 29
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That in recognition and 30
appreciation of the Navy service members and their families, who make 31
tremendous sacrifices in order to facilitate their service, the 32
Senate expresses its unwavering gratitude for the United States Navy 33
and the prosperity and protection it has provided to Washington.34
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