FILE NUMBER........

Whereas, Operation Godspeed was an idea conceived by Boulder City

resident Christine Combs Milburn whose goal was to display the United

States flag on every home and business in Boulder City in support of our

troops during the Persian Gulf War; and

Whereas, Operation Godspeed became a nonprofit organization that

incorporated in March 1991 as an organization to support the veterans of

all wars; and

Whereas, The Executive Board Members of Operation Godspeed are

volunteers from all walks of life who are united by their common

philosophy of old-fashioned patriotism and a commitment to honor those

who serve and have served in the Armed Services of the United States; and

Whereas, The money raised from flag sales, fund-raisers and donations

has brought their philosophy alive in many ways, including purchasing a

riding lawnmower and acquiring a backhoe for the Southern Nevada

Veterans Memorial Cemetery and funding the "God Bless All Veterans"

monument located at that cemetery; and

Whereas, Other patriotic activities of Operation Godspeed included

sponsoring an "Up With People" concert and the first "God Bless All

Veterans" Memorial Day parade in Boulder City, and arranging for the

Moving Wall, a one-half scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in

Washington, D.C., to be brought to Boulder City; and

Whereas, Operation Godspeed was nominated and recognized by

former President George Bush as one of the nation’s "Thousand Points of

Light"; and

Whereas, Operation Godspeed recognized a need to build an interfaith

chapel at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, which is the

second most utilized state veterans’ cemetery in the nation but presently has

no facility for the protection of family and visitors from the elements; and

Whereas, Operation Godspeed engaged in fundraising for a $1.2

million interfaith chapel created and designed by Mr. Ken Horak, Architect

and Executive Board Member of Operation Godspeed; and

Whereas, Operation Godspeed hosted a kick-off campaign in February

1997 in conjunction with veterans’ organizations throughout the Southern

Nevada area spotlighting the need for the chapel and introducing the "Walk

of Life" and "Wall of Life" paver campaign; and

Whereas, As of April 1999, Operation Godspeed has accomplished its

goal in raising $600,000 in private donations and in cooperation with the

State of Nevada and the Federal State Cemetery Grant Program has

scheduled the opening of bids for the first week in May of 1999 with

construction to start shortly thereafter; and

Whereas, Over the course of the next 9 months, construction will be

ongoing with completion slated for February 2000;

Whereas, Through the diligent efforts of the members of Operation

Godspeed and the civic and business community of Southern Nevada, a

nondenominational chapel will adorn the grounds of the Southern Nevada

Veterans Memorial Cemetery; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, the Assembly

Concurring, That the members of the 70th session of the Nevada

Legislature do hereby commend Operation Godspeed for its commitment to

patriotism and their support of the veterans of this nation; and be it further

Resolved, That the volunteer Executive Board Members of Operation

Godspeed, Christine Milburn, Elmer Marshall, Monika Czerwinski, John L.

Krumm, Doug Bradford, Jack A. Porrino, Lauren Bradford, Jerry

Czerwinski, Ken Horak, Wendy Krumm, Jim Knox, Barbara Knox, Jo

Marshall, Judge Victor Miller, Reverend Joel Rivers, Anthony H. Wirtz,

John Milburn, George Vavrek, be recognized as true "points of light" in the

State of Nevada; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and transmit a copy

of this resolution to the Executive Board of Directors of Operation

Godspeed.

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