Drafter

Clerk 03/02/2017

Title

A MOTION commemorating the centennial of the United States of America's entrance into World War One and honoring the employees of King County and the city of Seattle who served in the war.

Body

                     WHEREAS, on April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson requested that the United States Congress issue a declaration of war to join the Allies in the Great War, which is now known as World War One, and

                     WHEREAS, on April 4, 1917, the United States Senate voted to support the declaration of war, and

                     WHEREAS, on April 6, 1917, the United States House of Representatives voted to support the declaration of war, marking the formal date of the United States of America's entrance into the war, and

                     WHEREAS, more than sixty thousand residents of Washington state served in the Army, Navy, Marines or Coast Guard during the war, and

                     WHEREAS, those Washington state residents included one hundred twenty employees of King County, both men and women, who left their positions at the offices of the King County engineer, hospital, sheriff, auditor, clerk, assessor, garage, prosecuting attorney, justice of the peace, superintendent of buildings and coroner to serve their country in the armed forces during the war, and

                     WHEREAS, those Washington state residents also included three hundred ninety-two employees of the city of Seattle, both men and women, who at that time worked alongside their King County colleagues at the County-City Building, which is now known as the King County Courthouse, who served their country in the armed forces during the war, and

                     WHEREAS, in 1931, King County and the city of Seattle affixed bronze plaques entitled "Honor Roll of County Employees" and "Honor Roll of City Employees" at the entrance to the County-City Building to honor those employees who had served in the war, and

                     WHEREAS, on May 29, 1931, the Seattle Times wrote of these commemorative plaques, "It is a proper tribute to the men who served this country in its armies of fourteen years ago," and

                     WHEREAS, these commemorative plaques are currently located in the portico at the Fourth Avenue entrance to the King County Courthouse, where they serve as a lasting tribute to the men and women employed by King County and the city of Seattle who served their country during World War One, and

                     WHEREAS, in preparation for the commemoration of the centennial of the United States of America's entrance into World War One, the King County council desires to honor these public employees who bravely served our country during the war, as well as all veterans in King County for their service to our country;

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:

                     A.  The King County council declares Thursday, April 6, 2017, to be a Day of Honor to commemorate the centennial of the United States of America's entrance into World War One and to pay tribute to those who served their country during the war.

                     B.  The executive and 4Culture are respectfully requested to join the King County council and the city of Seattle in the restoration and reinstallation of the bronze plaques commemorating the employees of King County and the city of Seattle who served in World War One.  The plaques should be restored and reinstalled by April 6, 2017, the date of the centennial.

                     C.  The executive is respectfully requested to propose an honorary name for the portico in which the commemorative plaques are located and to submit the plaques and portico for recognition in the World War One Memorial Inventory Project that is being coordinated by the World War One Centennial Commission.

                     D.  The executive and 4Culture are respectfully requested to assist the King County council in planning a fitting tribute for the centennial on the day of April 6, 2017, including developing interpretive materials for the commemorative plaques, assisting with the participation of veterans' organizations in a ceremony and coordinating needed permits and planning for a ceremony to honor the service of King County and city of

Seattle employees, as well as all King County residents who served during World War One.