Whereas, Every 23 seconds, someone in the United States sustains a traumatic brain injury and at least 1.4 million sustain a traumatic brain injury each year; and,

Whereas, There are over 100,000 Michigan residents who are currently living with a permanent disability due to a traumatic brain injury; and,

Whereas, At least 3.17 million Americans currently live with permanent disabilities that were the result of a traumatic brain injury; and,

Whereas, Traumatic brain injury is the signature wound of the global war on terrorism due to the frequent detonation of roadside bombs and blasts; and,

Whereas, Military personnel who have returned to the United States with traumatic brain injuries will require additional medical funding from federal, state, and local resources; and,

Whereas, Concussions are serious injuries to the brain and multiple concussions can lead to lifelong disability as well as death; and,

Whereas, The lack of public awareness is so vast that traumatic brain injury is known in the disability community as the nation's "silent epidemic;" and,

Whereas, The designation of Brain Injury Awareness Month will work toward enhancing public awareness since most cases of traumatic brain injury are preventable;

Now, Therefore, be it Resolved, That I, Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of the state of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 2009 Brain Injury Awareness Month in Michigan.  I urge all citizens to learn more about this serious injury and to help reduce the incident of brain injury through prevention.