AJR115: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-5008/1

CMH:amn

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 115

January 9, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Shankland, Billings, Emerson, Hesselbein, Kolste, B. Meyers, Neubauer, Pope, Rodriguez, Sargent, Sinicki, Stubbs, Subeck, C. Taylor, VanderMeer, Zamarripa, Anderson, Bowen, Considine, Crowley, Gruszynski, Hintz, Murphy, Ohnstad, Riemer, Spiros, Spreitzer, Skowronski, Tusler, Vruwink and Hebl, cosponsored by Senators Bewley, Ringhand, Schachtner, Shilling, Carpenter, Jacque, Larson, Miller, Risser and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Rules.

AJR115,1,2 Relating to: commending the American Legion Auxiliary upon the 100th anniversary of its founding.

AJR115,1,6 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary was founded on November 10, 1919, to support the American Legion and to honor the sacrifice of those who serve by enhancing the lives of our veterans, our military, and their families, both at home and abroad; and

AJR115,1,10 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary continues to support the largest patriotic service organization in the nation with over 600,000 members, and the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin has approximately 20,000 members and 380 local units; and

AJR115,1,13 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary has a proud history of fighting for legislation to improve national security and the lives of our nation's veterans and military and their families; and

AJR115,2,3 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary sponsors the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), showcasing the creative achievements of veterans receiving treatment at VA facilities through visual arts, such as painting, sculpting, and drawing, as well as performing arts, such as creative writing, dance, drama, and music; and

AJR115,2,6 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin supports initiatives to educate children and youth in the history of the United States from the aspect of patriotism, Americanism, and the U.S. Constitution; and

AJR115,2,14 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary provides students the opportunity to learn how state and national governments work through American Legion Auxiliary Girls State and Nation, one of the most respected and coveted experiential learning programs presented in the United States; by developing leadership skills, confidence, and an action-based understanding of the government process; by providing young women a lasting foundation for success, both personally and professionally; and by guiding young women to become knowledgeable stewards of freedom and democracy and patriotic citizens; and

AJR115,2,16 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin provides tens of thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to the youth of Wisconsin; and

AJR115,2,19 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin serves its community with blood drives, disaster and emergency preparedness programs, and other community service; and

AJR115,2,25 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary broadens a tradition that dates back to the early 1920s when the red poppy was adopted as the American Legion family's memorial flower, a symbol of the sacrifice made by the men and women who served and died for their country and who deserve to be remembered through the distribution of the red crepe-paper poppy every Memorial Day and Veterans Day and throughout the year; and

AJR115,3,4 Whereas, as members of one of the oldest and most widely recognized programs of the American Legion Auxiliary, they distribute millions of poppies annually to the public in exchange for donations that go directly to assist veterans and active duty military with a medical or financial need; and

AJR115,3,8 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin provides therapeutic rehabilitation to veterans who produce almost 500,000 handmade red crepe-paper poppies annually through the Poppy Shop located on the grounds of the Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee; and

AJR115,3,11 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to support VA medical centers and veterans' homes and women veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; and

AJR115,3,15 Whereas, the American Legion Auxiliary – Department of Wisconsin volunteers thousands of hours at VA medical centers, veterans' homes, community-based outreach clinics and to veterans outside VA facilities; now, therefore, be it

AJR115,3,19 Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature, in recognition of the American Legion Auxiliary's ongoing commitment to community, state, and nation by supporting veterans and their families, does hereby commend the organization upon the 100th anniversary of its founding.

AJR115,3,20 (End)