JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE KIWANIS CLUBS OF MAINE, PARTICULARLY THE KIWANIS CLUB OF GORHAM FOR OPERATION HOLIDAY CHEER

WHEREAS,  Kiwanis is an organization made up of approximately 8,000 clubs in 96 countries with over 260,000 adult members, including 32 clubs in the State of Maine with over 1,500 adult members; and

WHEREAS,  members of Kiwanis place special emphasis on service to children and youth through initiatives intended to improve the quality of life of children in communities around the world; and

WHEREAS,  on July 17, 2007, the Kiwanis Club of Gorham was chartered; and

WHEREAS,  on July 21, 2007, the Kiwanis Club of Gorham, subsequently joined by other Kiwanis Clubs in Maine, launched Operation Holiday Cheer, a program to provide a holiday gift to each participating child of Maine's military families; and

WHEREAS,  there are over 9,000 children in the State of Maine that have a parent that serves in the military during the holidays; and

WHEREAS,  Operation Holiday Cheer acquired, wrapped and distributed a holiday gift to each participating military child in over 140 cities and towns throughout the State of Maine; and

WHEREAS,  each package contained a letter that read: "On behalf of the Kiwanis Clubs of Maine and the people of the State of Maine, we would like to offer you this token of our appreciation for your sacrifice. You are the child of a Maine military family and the bravery that you show every day by sharing your parent to help protect our country is being recognized and honored. You should be extremely proud of your service to our country and should know that we, the Kiwanis and the people of Maine, stand proudly beside you. We wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season!!"; and

WHEREAS,  the sacrifices and bravery of the children of military families have been acknowledged, commended and rewarded by the Kiwanis Clubs of Maine through Operation Holiday Cheer; now, therefore, be it

That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to recognize and honor the Kiwanis Clubs of Maine, particularly the Kiwanis Club of Gorham, for their acknowledgement and recognition of the sacrifices, courage and heroism of the children of Maine's military families through Operation Holiday Cheer; and be it further

That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Kiwanis Club of Gorham with our appreciation.