PROCLAMATION
by
Governor Bob Wise

WHEREAS, amateur radio operators have been designated a "valued national resource" by the United States Congress; and,

WHEREAS, local, state, and national officials rely on amateur radio volunteers to provide life-saving and essential communications in times of emergency; and,

WHEREAS, amateur radio organizations such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service provide trained operators for emergency communications support; and,

WHEREAS, amateur radio operators have proven their ability during flooding and other disasters in West Virginia, and especially following the atrocities of September 11 in New York and at the Pentagon; and,

WHEREAS, amateur radio operators, participating in SKYWARN, provide trained and radio-equipped weather spotters to assist the National Weather Service and the State of West Virginia; and,

WHEREAS, amateur radio operators serve both public and private agencies by providing communications for a wide range of events, such as the March of Dimes Walk and Armed Forces Day Parades, without charge to the groups they assist;

NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved that I, BOB WISE, Governor of the State of West Virginia, do hereby proclaim March 7, 2002, as

AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS
APPRECIATION DAY

in the Mountain State and encourage all citizens to recognize the commitment and dedication of our more than 6,000 ham radio operators.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to be affixed.

Done at the Capitol, City of Charleston, State of West Virginia, this the Sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord, Two Thousand Two, and in the One Hundred Thirty-ninth year of the State.

Bob Wise
Governor