HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 60 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 2, 2008 Commending the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter. ---------- Patron-- Fralin ----------

WHEREAS, the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter is commended for its compassionate, professional, and timely response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007; and

WHEREAS, the Roanoke Valley Chapter promptly joined with other American Red Cross chapters of Southwest Virginia to meet the multitude of emergency and health needs of students, parents, faculty members, as well as the Town of Blacksburg; and

WHEREAS, volunteer disaster relief workers responded to the initial crisis situation on campus within 45 minutes of being notified that the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter’s help was urgently needed; and

WHEREAS, eight trained relief workers manned the Roanoke Valley Chapter's Emergency Response Vehicle, which is the mobile feeding unit that supplied hot meals and snacks around the clock to all of the first responders and local, state, and federal law-enforcement personnel that were on campus to help the victims and the university community; and

WHEREAS, in cooperation with Roanoke Regional Airport, the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter volunteers quickly set up shuttle services and were onboard to care and support the victims' family members, transporting them to their hotels, to the campus, and to area hospitals; and

WHEREAS, 15 members of the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter's professional mental health team visited the grief-stricken and injured victims on campus and in the hospital; provided ongoing counseling services to students, faculty members, and their families during and after the crisis period; and helped both survivors and those who lost loved ones begin the healing process; and

WHEREAS, everyday, the hard-working volunteers of the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter remain well trained and fully prepared to aid the citizens of the Commonwealth in the event of a crisis or disaster; and

WHEREAS, with the help of more than 3,000 members, the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter is able to provide a multitude of life-saving and invaluable services to the citizens of the region in the areas of health, safety, disaster and emergency response, and blood services, and through its Armed Forces Emergency Services program; and

WHEREAS, the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter is an integral partner with the counties and cities of Roanoke, Botetourt, and Craig Counties, providing outstanding services to approximately 300,000 area residents; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter for its compassionate, professional, and timely response to the tragedy at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the American Red Cross Roanoke Valley Chapter as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude to the organization for its longtime dedication to the citizens of the Roanoke Valley and the Commonwealth.