Executive Order 2003-17 Honoring Arizona's Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom WHEREAS, more than 4,000 Arizonans served their country in Operation Iraqi Freedom, including five who gave their lives to their country and others who were injured; and WHEREAS, the people of Arizona are eternally grateful for the service and sacrifice of their servicemen and women in support of our country; and WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate to remember all Arizonans who served in this conflict, and in particular those who died or were injured, with permanent memorials in their honor; and WHEREAS, under the leadership of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Affairs, key members of Arizona's veterans' community and other Arizonans have volunteered their time and talents to serve on a commission to be charged with designing, funding, and creating appropriate tributes to those who served in this conflict and those who died or were injured; NOW THEREFORE I, Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona, by the authority vested in me by the Arizona Constitution and the laws of this state, do hereby order as follows: 1. There is hereby established a volunteer commission to be known as the Arizona Iraqi War Memorial Commission ("the Commission"). The Commission shall be charged with designing, funding and creating appropriate tributes to all Arizonans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and in particular, for those who died or were injured. Such tributes shall include a memorial service for the dead on state capital grounds and recommendations for a permanent war memorial on state grounds honoring all Arizonans who served in the conflict. The Commission shall also work with the City of Phoenix to recommend an appropriate commemoration for all Arizonans who died in Iraq to be placed on or near Piestewa Peak. The Commission shall have reasonable access to state-owned conference rooms in the Executive Tower and, where feasible, to support staff and facilities of the Governor's Office and/or Department of Veterans' Affairs; provided, however, that all funding necessary for any war memorials recommended by the Commission shall be funded by private donations, which the Commission shall be authorized to solicit. The Commission shall be charged with obtaining input from veterans and military groups, and from the families of all Arizona servicemen and women killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, regarding the tributes and memorials it considers and implements.
2.
3.
Executive Order 2003-17 Iraqi Veterans Memorial Page two 4.
All agencies of state government are directed to cooperate with the Commission in the analysis of potential sites for the permanent memorial, including the use, if appropriate, of Wesley Bolin Plaza. Except as specifically provided below, the Commission members shall be appointed by the Governor and all members shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. Although the Governor may add members as she deems appropriate, at its inception, the Commission shall be comprised of 21 members, who shall
include: a. Up to four members of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services Advisory Commission; b. The State Commander of the American Legion; c. The State Commander of the Disabled American Veterans; d. The State Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart; e. The State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; f. The State Commandant of the Marine Corps League; g. Two representatives of the Arizona House of Representatives, who shall not be of the same political party; h. Two representatives of the Arizona Senate, who shall not be of the same political party; i. Four representatives from the military appointed by the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs; j. Two representatives of the public, including at least one with experience in fundraising; and k. Two representatives of the Office of the Governor.
5.
6.
The Commission shall arrange for the memorial service referenced in paragraph two above as soon as feasible, and shall report to the governor by no later than November 11, 2003 on its recommendations for a permanent war memorial. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of Arizona.
GOVERNOR
Executive Order 2003-17 Iraqi Veterans Memorial Page three Done at the Capitol in Phoenix on this 26th Day of May in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Three and of the independence of the United States of America the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventy. ATTEST: Secretary of State
