SLS 17RS-198 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 35
BY SENATOR LUNEAU
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Sara Simmonds on her many outstanding
accomplishments.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend and congratulate Sara Simmonds on her many outstanding accomplishments.
3 WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens and the Senate of the Legislature
4 of Louisiana recognize the numerous accomplishments of Sara Simmonds; and
5 WHEREAS, Sara Simmonds of Alexandria, Louisiana is ninety-eight years young
6 and has accomplished so many remarkable and outstanding things throughout her life; and
7 WHEREAS, Sara is smart, loyal, adventurous, giving, positive, and optimistic and
8 she displays all of her great qualities in all that she does; and
9 WHEREAS, she initiated the reintroduction of Whooping Cranes to Louisiana, and
10 at eighty-eight she traveled to Bhutan to learn about cranes; she was the initial private funder
11 of the efforts to restore Whooping Cranes to Louisiana and remains a major donor; and
12 WHEREAS, she also helped fund research at Louisiana State University that was
13 necessary for the approval of the reintroduction of the Whopping Cranes by the United
14 States Fish and Wildlife Service; and
15 WHEREAS, she has served as an ambassador for the state of Louisiana and has
16 hosted dozens of out of state scientists from South Korea, Zambia, and Russia, always the
17 consummate host providing guests with an indelible image of Louisiana hospitality and hope
18 for a better world; and
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SLS 17RS-198 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, it was brought to Sara's attention several years ago that some soldiers
2 leaving and arriving at the airport in Alexandria, Louisiana did not always have the means
3 of getting lunch nor were they treated with the respect and honor they deserved; and
4 WHEREAS, Sara made it her personal mission to change the culture of the airport
5 by pulling together several of her friends and began a plan of action, that every soldier
6 leaving or arriving from the Alexandria, Louisiana airport 24/7 were greeted with an apple
7 pie, soft drink, hugs, and love from Sara and her friends; and
8 WHEREAS, in Sara's humble apartment are flags and heartfelt mementos from
9 soldiers all over the United States expressing their appreciation for the simple acts of
10 kindness that were exhibited by Sara and her friends; and
11 WHEREAS, Sara Simmonds was made an honorary general by Fort Polk for her
12 efforts and acts of kindness and numerous dignitaries throughout the United States, including
13 the governor of Idaho at the time, Jack Kempthorne, who traveled to Alexandria to thank her
14 for making sure all soldiers traveling in or out of Alexandria were properly honored; and
15 WHEREAS, she was also responsible for acquiring funds to build ten prison chapels
16 in our state prisons, she also has paid for buses to take at-risk kids, along with their probation
17 officer, to Angola to learn from the inmates about the dangers of inappropriate behavior, in
18 addition she has supported out-of-state field based courses for graduate students who are in
19 the Louisiana State University School of Renewable Resources so they can learn about
20 wetlands and wildlife issues in those regions, thereby strengthening their education; and
21 WHEREAS, at eighty-eight, Sara went on a cruise to the North Pole and, upon their
22 arrival many of the Europeans jumped into the Arctic Ocean for the Arctic Plunge but none
23 of the younger Americans on the trip would, so Sara said she could not have America shown
24 up and bailed off the boat into the water, at ninety-five she went on a two week camping trip
25 (in tents) across Mongolia and last year provided a video of her zip lining across a large lake
26 at the Wesley Center in central Louisiana, and she is currently planning a skydiving trip in
27 the next couple of months; and
28 WHEREAS, at ninety-six, Sara asked a friend if she would write her a reference
29 letter for a spiritual development program that was two years in length, the friend did and
30 she was accepted and has blown everyone there away, with her character and wit; and
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SLS 17RS-198 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Sara Simmonds is a light and an inspiration to others and her story and
2 deeds deserve to be recognized by the Senate of the state of Louisiana and to be used as a
3 guidepost to others finding their purpose and inspiring others; and
4 WHEREAS, the success of the state of Louisiana, the strength of our communities,
5 and the overall vitality of American society depend in great measure upon people like Sara
6 Simmonds who lead by example and make the world a better place for all our future
7 generations, a true Louisiana hero, and an inspiration to all who are fortunate enough to
8 know her.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
10 does hereby commend and congratulate Sara Simmonds on her many outstanding
11 accomplishments and wishes her much success on all of her future endeavors.
12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
13 Sara Simmonds.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
SR 35 Original 2017 Regular Session Luneau
Commends Sara Simmonds on her many outstanding accomplishments.
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