Honoring the Pennsylvania National Guard members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team upon their safe return to their families from their deployment to Iraq.

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania National Guard 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team is headquartered in Philadelphia. While the brigade has armories throughout the state, 2000 of its members are Philadelphians; and

WHEREAS, 4600 members of the 56th Stryker Brigade completed a tour of duty in Iraq on August 31, 2009; and

WHEREAS, The 56th Stryker Brigade was the largest single brigade stationed in Iraq and during the entire deployment there were only two fatalities; and

WHEREAS, During their nine months in Iraq the 56th Stryker Brigade was responsible for a roughly 800-square-area north of Baghdad working side by side with Iraqi security forces, also helping to complete civil capacity projects in excess of $22 million; now therefore

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

, That we hereby honor the Pennsylvania National Guard members of the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team upon their safe return to their families from their deployment to Iraq.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body and with immense gratitude for the service and sacrifice that the men and women of the 56th Stryker Brigade and their families gave to their country and this Commonwealth.

End