House Concurrent Resolution 27

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING FRIENDS OF MISSISSIPPI VETERANS FOR ITS TREMENDOUS PHILANTHROPIC WORK ON BEHALF OF MISSISSIPPI VETERANS AND EXPRESSING GREAT APPRECIATION TO MR. JACK WINSTEAD FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF VISIONARY LEADERSHIP.

WHEREAS, in 2007, Friends of Mississippi Veterans was established for the purpose of providing much needed support to our state's veterans with Jack H. Winstead at the helm as Board President; and

WHEREAS, recognizing there was a need with more than 200,000 veterans in Mississippi, one of the first priorities of the organization was to provide leadership for the creation of a veterans cemetery; and

WHEREAS, Jack led the charge to create peaceful places of remembrance for Mississippi veterans and worked tirelessly over the years to lead or facilitate Friends of Mississippi Veterans in making that goal a reality; and

WHEREAS, today, two beautiful cemetery locations exist in Newton and Kilmichael, Mississippi, to lay Mississippi's brave soldiers to rest; and

WHEREAS, Friends of Mississippi Veterans also promotes interest in the Mississippi State Veterans Board and provides support for the state veterans nursing homes and the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery, and offers assistance for construction and improvements to veterans' nursing homes, as well as covering expenses related to the veterans cemeteries; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Winstead continues to lead the organization in its mission to support nursing homes, and has been diligently and faithfully supported by individuals like Stephen Cole and other board members; and

WHEREAS, ever passionate about the environment of the state, Jack also serves as a consultant to Mississippi Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Andy Gipson, on Water Management and Natural Resources and as a Commissioner for the Department of Environmental Quality; and

WHEREAS, he is married to his loving wife Jeanette, and they are active members of First Baptist Church of Fannin with a bustling family of four adult children, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, a graduate of Mississippi State University, Jack earned his bachelor of science degree in agriculture and completed his graduate work at Mississippi State University and University of Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, since accomplishing its goal of creating the cemeteries, the organization's focus has turned to the care of veterans in our four state nursing homes, as well as participation in the Wreaths Across America national program; and

WHEREAS, approximately 600 male and female veterans reside in our state nursing homes, which are located in Collins, Jackson, Kosciusko, and Oxford; and

WHEREAS, each year in November in connection with Veterans Day, these homes are visited by Friends of Mississippi Veterans volunteers and the resident veterans are presented with a gift in appreciation for their service; and

WHEREAS, in December of each year, Friends of Mississippi Veterans sponsor the Wreaths Across America program at the Newton and Kilmichael cemeteries and place live Christmas wreaths on every single veteran's grave in both cemeteries, making it a stunning display of honor to our state's brave military men and women who are buried there; and

WHEREAS, the annual fundraiser in the fall of each year, in collaboration with the Mississippi State Veterans Affairs Board and the Mississippi State Veterans Homes, supports our Mississippi Veterans and our four Mississippi Veterans Homes; and

WHEREAS, it is most appropriate to honor fine organizations driven by a mission to serve the brave United States soldiers who have risked their lives for us during a vulnerable time in their lives:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Friends of Mississippi Veterans for its tremendous philanthropic work on behalf of Mississippi veterans and express great appreciation to Mr. Jack Winstead for his many years of visionary leadership during his time as Board President.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Friends of Mississippi Veterans, Mr. Jack H. Winstead, Mr. Stephen Cole and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.