The following material is being published, unedited, exactly as it was received via e-mail from the office of the government official or agency named, as a Source community service. Government office holders wishing to contribute to the FYI bulletin board must e-mail source@viaccess.net. The Source reserves the right to choose what is published.
Senator Juan Figueroa-Serville paid tribute to Virgin Islands soldiers enlisted in the VI National Guard and other branches of military service through a resolution presented at the Legislative session held on Friday, February 11 at the Earl B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas. The resolution was passed unanimously through the senate body and will be forwarded to Governor Charles W. Turnbull for his signature.
"This resolution is very personal to me," said the young freshman senator. "I was raised in a military family and I know firsthand the trials and tribulations experienced by military families." Figueroa-Serville's father is a retired army Major and, at the opening session of the Legislature on January 10, 2005, Figueroa-Serville proudly introduced his cousin who recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
The resolution, Bill No. 26-0012, "To honor and commend members of the Virgin Islands Army and Air National Guard and all Virgin Islanders who have served in the Armed Forces" chronicles the Virgin Islands National Guard's services to the United States through such military battles as Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, the global war on terrorism and the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay.
"Its all about family and the sacrifices families make when a loved one is enlisted in military service," said Figueroa-Serville. "I am compelled to send a message to our service personnel in an attempt to portray the gratitude we feel toward those who put their lives on the live to protect our freedom," said the Senator.
Senator Figueroa-Serville, in addition to pointing out the contributions VING provides to homeland security, stated that over 205 (two hundred and five) Virgin Island soldiers have been called to active duty since September 11, 2001, the day of the World Trade Center bombing.
"For these brave men and women who have put their lives on the line defending our freedom and the families who endure the hardship of having a loved one placed in harm's way, the least we can do, as a Legislative body is to publicly commend and acknowledge their service," said Senator Juan Figueroa-Serville.
