A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION,  Recognizing and endorsing the efforts of the Good Bears of the World organization and their efforts on behalf of Children's Day.

     WHEREAS,  teddy bears have been a beloved symbol of Americana ever since they were first created in response to President Theodore Roosevelt's rescue of a cuddly bear cub on a hunting trip in Mississippi; and

     WHEREAS,  teddy bears were instantly and uniquely popular with American children and have remained so for almost a century; and

     WHEREAS,  teddy bears possess a special quality of comforting and befriending children and assisting children during times of stress and uncertainty; and

     WHEREAS,  an organization of teddy bear collectors known as Good Bears of the World has been very active in distributing teddy bears to troubled and disadvantaged children; and

     WHEREAS,  an outstanding example of this charitable impulse is exemplified by Children's Day in Florida when nine hundred forty teddy bears were given to thirty-eight domestic violence shelters; and

     WHEREAS,  each Children's Day teddy bear wore a red ribbon with an 800 number in the hope that the information may help to keep the child's family from further domestic violence; and

     WHEREAS,  during Florida's Children's Day, teddy bears were also distributed to hundreds

of grateful children in local hospitals:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,  by the House of Representatives of the Seventy- fourth Legislature of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein, that the purposes of Children's Day be endorsed and applauded, that proponents of Children's Day be encouraged to bring Children's Day to South Dakota, and that May third be set aside as Children's Day in South Dakota.