PROCLAMATION OF THE GROVER BEACH CITY COUNCIL
IN RECOGNITION OF
WORLD WAR II COMMEMORATION WEEK
WHEREAS, in the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the advent of World War II dramatically and irrevocably transformed the County of San Luis Obispo and all its population as the entire nation mobilized for war; and
WHEREAS, Camp San Luis Obispo was activated by the Army in 1940 and during the war, the post served as a training base for 22,000 soldiers, with nine combat divisions training there that deployed both to European and the Pacific Theaters of war, as well as 5,000 Marines. By war’s end in 1945, over 140,000 soldiers had prepared for war at Camp San Luis Obispo; and WHEREAS, Camp Roberts in northern San Luis Obispo County began its mission in March 1941; throughout World War II, Camp Roberts was the largest U.S. Army basic training installation in the nation. Over 436,000 troops were trained here, over 5% of the nation’s entire Army during the war. By 1944 this base reached its peak population of 45,000 troops, with thousands of these soldiers quartered in huge tent cities with a 750-bed hospital, churches, warehouses, PXs, and other support facilities (many of which continue in use today); and WHEREAS, the last week of April 1942 held special significance in the history of each of the communities throughout the Central Coast, because on April 30 the nation began the enforcement of Executive Order 9066 throughout the County. Japanese Americans were expelled from their homes and confined in internment camps for the duration of the conflict many of them citizens of the United States; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate that the residents of the Central Coast set aside a week in April 2022 to reflect upon that time – only 80 years ago – where our community and our nation came together as one people to fight the common enemy of the Third Reich and Japanese Imperialism; a time when we entered a war that ended not only with military victory, but with the establishment of institutions that fostered a peaceful world order committed to human rights, democracy, and respect for national sovereignty and the common aspirations of humanity; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Grover Beach City Council does hereby proclaim the last week of April as “World War II Commemoration Week marking this week with free public events throughout the County to educate our citizens about the brave men and women who endured enormous sacrifices of their property, their liberty, and in many cases their lives to achieve victory in World War II and kindle the hopes for a lasting peace.
IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Grover Beach to be affixed this 25h day of April, 2022.
Jeff Lee, Mayor
Attest:
Wendi B. Sims, City Clerk
Agenda Item No. 2