HJ402: Commending Les Garrison.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 402
Commending Les Garrison.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 8, 2022
Agreed to by the Senate, March 9, 2022

 

WHEREAS, Les Garrison, coordinator of the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team, was selected by the Arlington County Human Rights Commission to receive the James B. Hunter Human Rights Award in 2021; and

WHEREAS, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Les Garrison helped found the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to coordinate and train citizens on how they can help when disaster strikes; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison served as a team leader with CERT for 14 years before he was nominated to become the organization’s coordinator; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as coordinator of CERT, Les Garrison fostered the growth and development of the organization by encouraging and empowering its members to take on new projects and leadership roles while increasing the number of active volunteers by 83 percent and their number of hours volunteered by more than 500 percent; and

WHEREAS, through Les Garrison’s expert leadership, CERT has become a critical program of Arlington County Emergency Management, supporting the locality by preparing staff and community members for emergencies and active violence incidents through the “Until Help Arrives” program and other outreach and engagement activities; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison was instrumental to Arlington County’s response to and recovery from recent flash floods, rapidly coordinating volunteers to conduct damage assessments and facilitating the response of the local recovery center; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison has developed relationships with local and regional partners by serving on the regional CERT Consortium, helping to plan the annual CERTCON volunteer conference, and serving on local planning exercise committees; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote public safety in the community, Les Garrison previously received a Civic Hero Award from the Arlington County Civic Federation in 2002 and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Virginia Emergency Management Association in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison has demonstrated great selflessness and optimism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while coordinating volunteers and ensuring all residents of Arlington County have access to the resources they need; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Les Garrison, coordinator of the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team, for receiving the 2021 James B. Hunter Human Rights Award; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Les Garrison as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 402

Offered March 7, 2022
Commending Les Garrison.
Patron-- Bennett-Parker

WHEREAS, Les Garrison, coordinator of the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team, was selected by the Arlington County Human Rights Commission to receive the James B. Hunter Human Rights Award in 2021; and

WHEREAS, after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Les Garrison helped found the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to coordinate and train citizens on how they can help when disaster strikes; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison served as a team leader with CERT for 14 years before he was nominated to become the organization’s coordinator; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure as coordinator of CERT, Les Garrison fostered the growth and development of the organization by encouraging and empowering its members to take on new projects and leadership roles while also increasing the number of active volunteers by 83 percent and their number of hours volunteered by more than 500 percent; and

WHEREAS, through Les Garrison’s expert leadership, CERT has become a critical program of Arlington County Emergency Management, supporting the locality by preparing staff and community members for emergencies and active violence incidents through the “Until Help Arrives” program and other outreach and engagement activities; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison was instrumental to Arlington County’s response to and recovery from recent flash floods, rapidly coordinating volunteers to conduct damage assessments and facilitating the response of the local recovery center; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison has developed relationships with local and regional partners by serving on the regional CERT Consortium, helping to plan the annual CERTCON volunteer conference, and serving on local planning exercise committees; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote public safety in the community, Les Garrison previously received a Civic Hero Award from the Arlington County Civic Federation in 2002 and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Virginia Emergency Management Association in 2020; and

WHEREAS, Les Garrison has demonstrated great selflessness and optimism throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while coordinating volunteers and ensuring all residents of Arlington County have access to the resources they need; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Les Garrison, coordinator of the Arlington Community Emergency Response Team, for receiving the 2021 James B. Hunter Human Rights Award; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Les Garrison as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for his contributions to the Commonwealth.