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WHEREAS, tens of thousands of American Service Members are deployed in hostile and remote regions of the world, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, and on ships throughout international waters, and must endure difficult physical conditions and be separated from loved ones for long periods of time; and
WHEREAS, Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Airwomen and Marines deployed in harm's way. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support; and
WHEREAS, through Collection Drives, Letter Writing Campaigns and Donations of funds for shipping expenses, Operation Gratitude provides civilians anywhere in America a way to express their respect and appreciation to the men and women of the U.S. Military in an active, hands-on manner; and
WHEREAS, Operation Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, volunteer-based corporation, funded entirely by private donations. For safety and security, the final assembly of all care packages occurs at the Army National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California; and
WHEREAS, Olivia Lynne Allison of Carrick won the Keystone State Princess title in the American Coed Pageant in May 2010, and has chosen as her community service project to give back to the community to organize a campaign for Operation Gratitude; she worked to gather letters and package donations at the Carrick Community Cornfest last August and at Pittsburgh Brashear High School in Beechview and Pittsburgh Roosevelt Elementary School in Carrick this fall, concluding the campaign last week for a packing day on November 10, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh Brashear High School and Pittsburgh Roosevelt Elementary School are working together in partnership, bridging neighborhoods and young people; and between the two schools the students have written over 1000 letters and collected items to pack into over 25 boxes of good to ship overseas; and
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend Olivia Lynne Allison and the students, teachers, parents and administrators of Pittsburgh Brashear High School and Pittsburgh Roosevelt Elementary School for their contributions to Operation Gratitude and all of our Armed Service Men and Women on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh.