HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 2024-4670, by Representative Corry
1 WHEREAS, Upon earning his wings in December 1943, United States
2 Army Air Forces veteran Captain Richard "Dick" Alan Nelms served in
3 the European Theater during World War II as a Boeing B-17 Flying
4 Fortress copilot and pilot, assigned to the 447th Bomb Group, 8th Air
5 Force, based out of Rattlesden, Suffolk County, England; and
6 WHEREAS, Dick Nelms flew 35 missions into Nazi-occupied
7 territories, including Germany and France, sustaining combat damage
8 in 25 of those missions, and helped create and coordinate food and
9 supply drops to the Marquis Freedom Fighters in France and others;
10 and
11 WHEREAS, Dick Nelms earned multiple awards of valor for his
12 service, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, five Air Medals,
13 the Presidential Unit Citation, the French Legion of Honor Medal, and
14 received a Certificate of Special Recognition for participation in
15 the Battle of Normandy and the liberation of France and Europe; and
16 WHEREAS, Following the war, Dick Nelms established a successful
17 freelance commercial art business, including a job with the King
18 County Library System in the 1970s, and served as an art director for
19 the next 45 years in the Seattle area; and
20 WHEREAS, Dick Nelms was commissioned in 1967 to create a new
21 Washington State Seal insignia, selecting a Gilbert Stuart portrait
22 of George Washington for the design, which was accepted and made the
23 official State Seal by the Legislature; and
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 1 WHEREAS, After launching his volunteer service at the Museum of
2 Flight in March 2016, Dick Nelms has regularly shared personal
3 stories of how he and his fellow pilots and servicemembers handled
4 the fear and horrors of war with thousands of Museum visitors from
5 around the globe, as well as his sense of pride for "putting a dent
6 in Hitler's war machine"; and
7 WHEREAS, As part of his Museum volunteer work, Dick has shared
8 his wartime experience in the local community and at engagements
9 across the country with organizations, including schools, museums,
10 community centers, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and at the Air Force
11 Ball celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the United States Air Force;
12 and
13 WHEREAS, On February 17, 2023, Dick Nelms celebrated his 100th
14 Birthday at The Museum of Flight;
15 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives
16 recognize and honor Mr. Dick Nelms for his significant contributions
17 to our state and country.
18
19 I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
20 Resolution 4670 adopted by the House of Representatives
21 February 16, 2024
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26 __________________________
27 Bernard Dean, Chief Clerk
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