WHEREAS, the courageous soldiers and airmen of the Virginia National Guard have made outstanding and valuable contributions to the defense of the United States and the security of the Commonwealth and have advanced the cause of freedom around the world; and

WHEREAS, since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, more than 15,000 Virginia soldiers and airmen have served on active duty in support of Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn, helping to maintain security in the United States and further the cause of freedom around the world; and

WHEREAS, approximately 150 soldiers from the Emporia-based Virginia National Guard 1710th Transportation Company, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group began serving on federal active duty on April 1, 2013; and

WHEREAS, soldiers from the 1710th Transportation Company returned to the Commonwealth in February 2014 after serving on federal active duty in Afghanistan since June 2013, where they conducted transportation support operations at Kandahar Airfield; and

WHEREAS, the 1710th Transportation Company had no soldiers killed in action or seriously wounded; and

WHEREAS, soldiers from the 1710th Transportation Company drove more than 304,000 miles, conducted 43 sustainment and retrograde missions, and hauled more than 3,200 20-foot container units for resupply operations and 100 pieces of rolling stock for transport out of country; and

WHEREAS, the 1710th Transportation Company maintained a 99 percent operational readiness rate and received a safety streamer for having no serious accidents, and the company's maintenance section performed nearly 800 quality assurance and quality control inspections before each vehicle left on a mission and performed 95 repairs and completed 55 annual services; and

WHEREAS, the 1710th Transportation Company is made up of soldiers from all over the Commonwealth, including approximately 70 soldiers from the Hampton Roads area, 30 from the Richmond and Petersburg area, 15 from the Emporia, Franklin, and Courtland area, and 10 from the Northern Virginia area, as well as other locations; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia National Guard is recognized as one of the best in the nation in many critical areas and provides a ready, reliable, relevant, and rapidly responding force that deploys as directed by the Governor to assist state and local authorities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Virginia National Guard 1710th Transportation Company and its dedicated soldiers for their devotion to duty and their outstanding and valuable contributions to the defense of the United States and the Commonwealth; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation on behalf of the patriotic soldiers of the Virginia National Guard 1710th Transportation Company as an expression of the General Assembly's gratitude for their dedication to the citizens of the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.