HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 12

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Nathan P. Cote

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE APRIL 28, 2010 AS "POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER AWARENESS DAY."

     WHEREAS, veterans and active duty and reserve military personnel make significant sacrifices to protect the nation's freedom and way of life; and

     WHEREAS, posttraumatic stress disorder is a deep and unseen wound carried back from battle by the brave servicemembers who fight for freedom overseas; and

     WHEREAS, posttraumatic stress disorder manifests itself in ways that much of society cannot understand and yet must acknowledge in the ongoing effort to assist New Mexico's servicemembers with their honorable struggles to reacclimate to a non-combat environment when returning home; and

     WHEREAS, many organizations with qualified individuals, some of whom are veterans, offer a full range of services for New Mexico's veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder who have served in the five branches of the armed forces; and

     WHEREAS, the work done by these organizations and their volunteers, while critically important, is not widely known; and

     WHEREAS, no formal period of reflection has been set aside for residents of New Mexico to learn about posttraumatic stress disorder and its effects on New Mexico's veterans or for residents of New Mexico to learn ways in which they can engage in meaningful efforts to recognize posttraumatic stress disorder and assist the brave veterans' return to civilian life; and

     WHEREAS, a day of awareness for posttraumatic stress disorder can serve as a public service for New Mexico's veterans and as an educational opportunity for New Mexicans to better understand posttraumatic stress disorder as it affects New Mexico's returning servicemembers; and

     WHEREAS, President Barack Obama has committed to reducing the number of troops in Iraq to fifty thousand by August 2010, thus increasing the need to be prepared to treat New Mexico's returning servicemembers;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to declare April 28, 2010 as "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the governor.

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