093_SJ0024

                                     LRB093 11146 HSS 11991 r

 1                       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Today, the mission of the American Red Cross  is
 3    more  relevant  than  ever as it confronts a changing America
 4    full of unique challenges; the heroic efforts  of  the  first
 5    responders to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks became
 6    a  source of strength for millions of people around the world
 7    struggling to comprehend this terribly  tragedy;  from  their
 8    example  came  a  new  resolve,  to be better prepared in the
 9    event of another wide-scale attack anywhere in America; and

10        WHEREAS, In a collaborative  effort  with  the  State  of
11    Illinois,  the  federal  government, and other members of the
12    emergency planning community, the Red Cross and its  partners
13    are  better  able  to serve the nation; through its bold, new
14    Together We Prepare initiative, the Red Cross is leading  the
15    way   in  empowering  individuals  and  families  to  protect
16    themselves; with five simple steps, make a plan, build a kit,
17    get trained, volunteer, and give blood,  the  Red  Cross  and
18    Americans   from   coast   to  coast  will  help  make  their
19    communities safer; and

20        WHEREAS, For more than 121 years, the American Red  Cross
21    has  honored  its  mission  to  provide  relief to victims of
22    disasters while helping  people  prevent,  prepare  for,  and
23    respond  to  emergencies;  last  year alone, more than 27,000
24    silent  heroes  in  Illinois  helped   their   neighbors   by
25    volunteering  at  their  local Red Cross chapter, and 500,000
26    more took the time to learn lifesaving skills such  as  first
27    aid,  CPR,  and  defibrillator  use; thousands of Illinoisans
28    rolled up their sleeves to donate over 100,000 gifts of blood
29    and blood products, the gift of life,  through  the  American
30    Red  Cross,  and over 31,000 people across Illinois turned to
31    the American Red Cross for disaster education training; and

32        WHEREAS, All of these  services,  and  many  others,  are
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11146 HSS 11991 r
 1    provided  through 36 locally governed and supported Red Cross
 2    chapters and 5 Blood Services regions; community  involvement
 3    is  critical for programs that prepare individuals, families,
 4    and  neighborhoods  for  emergencies;  through  its  presence
 5    across the country, the Red Cross is the leader in empowering
 6    people in every neighborhood to be ready and prepared for the
 7    unexpected; and

 8        WHEREAS, The victims of more than 2,500  disasters,  from
 9    fires  that affected a single structure to large-scale events
10    such as floods that devastated  central  Illinois,  tornadoes
11    that  ravaged  southern  Illinois, and other emergency events
12    across the State, received help from the Red Cross last year;
13    the Red Cross also responded to international emergencies  by
14    aiding  other  countries  devastated by natural disasters and
15    helping people in other nations get access to  safe  drinking
16    water  and  battle malnutrition and life-threatening diseases
17    such as measles; more than 13,000 Illinois military  families
18    received  direct  assistance from the Red Cross, keeping them
19    connected in times of great personal sorrow and joy; and

20        WHEREAS, Those who need blood, those who are  victims  of
21    disaster,  or  those  who  are  the recipients from the broad
22    spectrum of community services rely on the American Red Cross
23    every day; compassionate and caring people who wanted to make
24    a difference in their community and  across  the  nation,  at
25    home and abroad, channeled their support through the American
26    Red Cross; and

27        WHEREAS, The State of Illinois and the American Red Cross
28    have  worked strongly together to make our communities safer;
29    the American Red Cross was an original member of the Illinois
30    Terrorism Task Force and makes important contributions to our
31    State efforts for homeland security; the State of Illinois is
32    proud of  its  relationship  with  the  American  Red  Cross;
33    therefore, be it
 
                            -3-      LRB093 11146 HSS 11991 r
 1        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
 2    ASSEMBLY  OF  THE   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS,   THE   HOUSE   OF
 3    REPRESENTATIVES  CONCURRING  HEREIN,  that  we proclaim March
 4    2003 as American Red Cross Month in Illinois and urge all our
 5    citizens to become partners in preparedness with their  local
 6    Red  Cross  chapters  and  to  become  active participants in
 7    advancing the noble mission of  the  Red  Cross;  and  be  it
 8    further

 9        RESOLVED,  That  we  applaud  and  recognize the selfless
10    dedication of generations of Red Cross volunteers and  staff;
11    and be it further

12        RESOLVED,  That  a  suitable  copy  of this resolution be
13    presented to David T. McLaughlin, Chairman  of  the  American
14    Red Cross.