HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5024 Offered April 19, 2006 Commending the Mount Vernon Yacht Club on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. ---------- Patrons-- Amundson; Senator: Puller ----------

WHEREAS, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club, located where Dogue Creek joins the Potomac River, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2006; and

WHEREAS, founded in 1956, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club offers numerous social and water-based activities to family members who live in the historic Mount Vernon community; and

WHEREAS, throughout the year, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club sponsors a variety of social events and supports an active swim team, a power fleet, and a sail fleet; and

WHEREAS, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club also has space for a limited number of boaters for short stays and is the home base of two Coast Guard Auxiliary Power Squadrons; and

WHEREAS, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club regularly hosts meetings of the Potomac River Yacht Club and the Chesapeake Bay Yacht Club Associations; and

WHEREAS, in recent years, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club has hosted meetings of the local Coast Guard, County Police, and Emergency Responders for Homeland Security for training and communications drills; and

WHEREAS, the annual club Commissioning Day takes place on the first Sunday in May and is an inspirational and patriotic event that traditionally features a flag-raising ceremony by the United States Coast Guard and a thrilling bayonet drill performance by its Silent Drill Team; and

WHEREAS, the Commissioning Day ceremonies include a blessing of the fleet, after which champagne toasts signal the commissioning of the power and sail fleets, officially opening the boating season; and

WHEREAS, a great supporter of young people, the Mount Vernon Yacht Club hosts the Mount Vernon High School Crew Team, which traditionally conducts a demonstration race during the festivities; and

WHEREAS, Commissioning Day in 2006, in conjunction with the Mount Vernon Yacht Club's 50th anniversary, will be an enjoyable and exciting gala with a gathering of special guests, members and their families, state and local dignitaries, as well as officials from surrounding yacht clubs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Mount Vernon Yacht Club on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Mount Vernon Yacht Club as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and best wishes for a happy anniversary celebration and for continued success in the future.