WHEREAS, Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), located in
Mons, Belgium, is the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of NATO’s two
strategic military commands; and
WHEREAS, the mission of ACO and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe
(SACEUR) is to contribute to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of NATO
member nations in its area of responsibility; and
WHEREAS, led by the SACEU, the international staff of SHAPE and the
subordinate military headquarters plan and coordinate the deployment of NATO’s military
forces in ACO and are responsible for all Alliance operations, ranging from the Straits of
Gibraltar to Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, the SHAPE Officers’ Association was founded in 1961 by a group of
officers in Paris and today includes some 1,750 members with chapters in Canada, France,
Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the mission of the SHAPE Officers’ Association is to foster
friendships among officers/civilians of equivalent rank who serve or who have served at SHAPE;
to keep members informed about SHAPE and the military situation in NATO; and, to enable
members to serve the Alliance even after retirement; and
WHEREAS, the SHAPE Officers’ Association conducts various events throughout
the year to achieve its goals such as briefings and luncheons featuring distinguished political or
military leaders, an annual symposium and dinner, and newsletters published several times a
year to keep members up to date on current events; and
WHEREAS, the City of Tampa is honored to have been selected as the site of the
2007 US Chapter SHAPE Officers’ Association meeting to be held in Tampa February 17-19,
2007 at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company in historic Ybor City.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Pam Iorio, by virtue of the authority vested in me as
Mayor of the City of Tampa, Florida, do hereby proclaim Sunday, February 18, 2007 as
“NATO/SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED POWERS EUROPE
(SHAPE) OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION DAY”
in the City of Tampa, Florida, and urge all citizens to join me in welcoming all members to our
city and in thanking them for their efforts on behalf of our nation’s citizens.
Dated in Tampa, Florida, this 13th day of February, 2007.
__________________________
Mayor