WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, citizens of the United States were cruelly and deliberately attacked by international terrorists and criminals who specifically targeted innocent civilians; and

WHEREAS, service men and women from all parts of this country, from all backgrounds and all walks of life, are serving in the United States military on a volunteer basis to defend our lives, our liberty and our freedom; and

WHEREAS, during this dangerous and uncertain time United States Army Sargent Claude G. Sturm gave up a comfortable recruiting job to volunteer for active duty with the fighting 82^nd Airborne Division, certain to be deployed in harm’s way; and

WHEREAS, Sgt. Sturm has been deployed to the combat zone in the ancient and far away land of Iraq, leaving behind his wife and family to serve in the hour of our country’s need; and

WHEREAS, Sgt. Sturm was born and raised in Leon County, Florida, was a graduate of Florida High School in Tallahassee, Florida, and will always be considered to be one of our most distinguished and admired citizens.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS that Saturday, February 19, 2004 be hereby declared

in Leon County, Florida. We honor the altruism and self sacrifice of Sgt. Sturm and his colleagues of the U.S. Army’s historic 82^nd Airborne Division. We once again look to patriots like Sgt. Sturm, and to all the men and women of our armed services, the finest in the world, to defend our lives, our freedom, and the sacred right of every person to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. We find that Sgt. Sturm represents the very best of our community, in his character, his judgement, his courage and his steadfast resolve, and do therefore on this date appoint Sgt. Claude G. Sturm as our international ambassador of freedom and emissary of peace, to the people of Iraq and to all the world.

DATED this 19^th day of February, A.D., 2004.