2013 Assembly Joint Resolution 68
ENROLLED JOINT RESOLUTION
Relating to: commending the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing on its 65th anniversary.
Whereas, the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing was created in 1948; and
Whereas, over the last 65 years, much has changed, including aircraft, missions, personnel, technology, and our culture, but the passion and commitment to the profession of arms in the defense of our country and preservation of our freedoms is as strong in 2013 as it was in 1948; and
Whereas, the 115th Fighter Wing currently has nearly 1,200 members, of whom nearly 400 are full-time employees who serve our state and country with pride and professionalism; and
Whereas, with a local annual financial impact of over $86 million to Madison and the surrounding areas, 115th Fighter Wing members are responsible citizens who are college students and employees of local businesses with strong relationships and partnerships in the community; and
Whereas, Wisconsin's 115th Fighter Wing is an equal partner in our nation's defense as well as a cost-effective answer in our domestic response missions, with highly trained personnel and equipment positioned to respond to support the civilians in our state and region in emergencies such as floods, tornadoes, snowstorms, and other disasters with heavy equipment, civil engineering, emergency response medical professionals, and mobile ER ready to respond to emergencies as needed, as well as supporting law enforcement agencies on a moment's notice; and
Whereas, the 115th Fighter Wing's RC-26 aircrew supports civilian defense, executing national missions in support of southwestern border operations, responds to national natural disasters such as Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Katrina, and helps support law enforcement agencies to reduce the supply of drugs into our community; the RC-26 aircrew provides a perfect example of executing state and federal missions from base while stateside, between continuous overseas combat deployments; the 115th Fighter Wing has aircraft, aircrew and maintenance, and support personnel armed, positioned, and ready to respond and deter threats to our homeland, having been effectively executing our country's highest-priority mission of homeland defense 24/7/365 since the September 11 attacks; and
Whereas, the Air National Guard's three priorities: to defend the homeland, to support state and federal missions, and to do it better and more efficiently, are fulfilled daily; in the words of their commander, "We are ready. We are relevant. We are accessible. We are dedicated to excellence!"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the Wisconsin legislature honors and congratulates the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing on its 65 years of dedicated service to the people of Wisconsin and the United States of America.
