Whereas, The contributions and sacrifices of military personnel from Michigan bases are vital to maintaining America’s freedoms and way of life; and,

Whereas, It is crucial to raise awareness of the sacrifices that these brave men and women in uniform have made in the past and continue to make in order to support the Constitution and to preserve the liberties that enrich this great nation; and,

Whereas, It is important to recognize the sacrifices, support and dedication of the families of these men and women who serve; and,

Whereas, It is important to instill in the youth of Michigan the significance of the contributions and the relevance of the history of our great nation that members of the United States Armed Forces have made in securing and protecting the freedoms that United States citizens enjoy today; and,

Whereas, Our volunteer driven force makes it essential that the future leaders of Michigan and the nation understand the military’s history and traditions, including the contributions and sacrifices of those who have participated in military actions; and,

Whereas, The citizens of Michigan recognize the importance of maintaining a strong, equipped, well-educated, and well-trained military to safeguard freedoms, humanitarianism and peacekeeping efforts around the world; and,

Whereas, In 1999, the United States Senate passed a resolution designating the month of May, as “National Military Appreciation Month” and called upon the President to issue each year a proclamation designating May as ”National Military Appreciation Month,” calling on the people of the United States to honor the dedicated service provided by the members of the United States Armed Forces; and now therefore be it,

Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor of the State of Michigan, do hereby proclaim May 2004 as Military Appreciation Month in Michigan and I urge all citizens to recognize and honor the dedication and commitment of the members of the United States Armed Forces.