Title: Florida State Guard

Summary: Designates August 30, 2024, as "Florida State Guard Day."

Full Text:
WHEREAS, the task of the citizen soldiers of the Florida State Guard was to fulfill the National Guard's stateside obligation to prot ect the homeland, and WHEREAS, the Florida State Guard was reactivated on June 14, 2022, for the first time in years, and WHEREAS, on June 30, 2023, the newly formed Florida State Guard graduated its first class of approximately soldiers, making Florida one of states that currently maintain a state guard, and WHEREAS, the mission of the Florida State Guard is to protect and defend the life and property of the people of Florida from all threats to public safety through rapid deployment of ground,maritime, and air capabilities in partnership with state and local agencies, and WHEREAS, the Florida State Guard was called to active duty and deployed throughout the state as Hurricane Idalia approached north Florida in August of 2023, and after the storm made HR 8027 2024 hr8027 FL OR I DA HO US EO FR EP RE SE NT A TI VE Slandfall near Keaton Beach on August 30, 2023, the members of the guard launched into action, establishing points of distribution for essential resources, clearing roadways, identifying and surveying damages, assisting with recovery efforts, and distributing thousands of hot meals to those impacted by the storm's destruction, actions that demonstrated the willingness to come to the aid of their fellow Floridians in times of crisis and uncertainty, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Florida: That August 30, 2024, is designated as "Florida State Guard Day" in the State of Florida.