Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE SIGNIFICANT WORK OF OPERATION ENDURING HONOR AND THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ACCOMPLISH THE LABOR THAT MAKES SOUTH CAROLINA'S PARKS AVAILABLE FOR DISABLED VETERANS TO ENJOY.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to commend the volunteers of Operation Enduring Honor, a South Carolina nonprofit, for their outstanding work to honor the sacrifice of disabled service members and ensure that all who serve can enjoy South Carolina with dignity and honor; and
Whereas, South Carolina enjoys some of the most diverse and beautiful state parks in the nation from the beaches, to the wetlands, to the mountains. However, all state parks do not provide picnic tables that are wheelchair accessible in picnic and recreation areas; and
Whereas, Operation Enduring Honor strives to honor the sacrifice of America's disabled service members by providing special picnic tables to help wheelchair-bound veterans, visitors, and their families enjoy the remarkable outdoor venues and activities available in the state's many parks; and
Whereas, when members of the Operation Enduring Honor team were hiking in a state recreation area, they spoke with a park ranger and discussed donating a picnic table to the park; and
Whereas, the ranger related the story of a disabled veteran and his family who visited the park to enjoy a picnic, but the veteran had to be lifted from his wheelchair to sit at the picnic table. After lunch, however, his family could not lift him back into his wheelchair, so they had to call for help; and
Whereas, the ranger suggested a wheelchair-accessible picnic table to the hikers and expressed a desire to have wheelchair-accessible picnic tables for anyone who visits and enjoys any and all of the recreation areas of South Carolina; and
Whereas, during the COVID crisis families restricted to their homes turned to parks and recreation areas for a break, and those who have family members in wheelchairs have been especially affected by the pandemic; and
Whereas, a significant number of disabled veterans are visiting parks, but have no place to sit and enjoy a meal with their families since most picnic tables cannot accommodate wheelchair users; and
Whereas, out of this realization, volunteers formed Operation Enduring Honor in order to provide wheelchair-accessible picnic tables in state parks. They help to construct the tables, and financial sponsors help to provide the needed materials; and
Whereas, the cost to construct each table is four hundred dollars, and Operation Enduring Honor has a goal to construct four to six wheelchair-accessible picnic tables in every park and recreation area across the State; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives appreciates the ingenuity and generosity of organizations like Operation Enduring Honor that multiply the natural beauty of the Palmetto State by making it a place of blessing for everyone. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the significant work of Operation Enduring Honor and the volunteers who accomplish the labor that makes South Carolina's parks available for disabled veterans to enjoy.
This web page was last updated on April 28, 2021 at 2:31 PM