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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, U.S. Army veterans Stephen Lucas, Larry Leonard, and |
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William Stevens rendered exceptional service to their country as |
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guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National |
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Cemetery in Virginia; and |
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WHEREAS, A hallowed site of national mourning and |
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remembrance, the tomb's marble monument has stood for more than a |
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century in tribute to all missing and unknown American soldiers, |
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and it is the final resting place for three service members from |
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World War I, World War II, and the Korean War; U.S. Army soldiers |
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were first assigned to guard the tomb in 1926, and since 1937, the |
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site has been protected around the clock every day of the year; and |
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WHEREAS, Stephen Lucas of Fort Worth, Larry Leonard of Haltom |
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City, and William "Bill" Stevens of Cedar Hill were sentinels at the |
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monument and are members of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of |
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the Unknown Soldier; Mr. Lucas served at the site from September |
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1975 through February 1977; he was awarded the Tomb of the Unknown |
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Soldier Identification Badge, and on July 5, 1976, he was addressed |
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by the Queen of England, who was present for a wreath-laying |
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ceremony; he served for 22 years in the army, receiving the |
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Meritorious Service Medal, the Drill Sergeant Identification |
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Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal, and he retired as a |
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sergeant first class; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard served as a tomb guard from June 1975 |
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through June 1979 and was awarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier |
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Identification Badge; he was a specialist with the 3rd U.S. |
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Infantry Regiment from 1975 to 1980, and his military honors |
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include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service |
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Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Award; and |
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WHEREAS, From December 1967 through October 1968, |
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Mr. Stevens was a tomb guard relief commander; he earned the Tomb |
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Guard Badge and was assigned as a special guard to the gravesite of |
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President John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery and as a |
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special escort for Jacqueline Kennedy at Robert Kennedy's funeral |
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procession to the cemetery in 1968; an army specialist from 1966 to |
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1968, he received the Old Guard Certificate of Achievement, the |
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National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, Demonstrating the highest levels of discipline, |
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stamina, and patriotism during their vigils at the Tomb of the |
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Unknown Soldier, Stephen Lucas, Larry Leonard, and Bill Stevens |
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honored the service and sacrifice of fallen U.S. soldiers, and they |
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are indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend Stephen Lucas, |
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Larry Leonard, and William Stevens for their contributions as |
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guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and extend to them sincere |
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appreciation for their distinguished service; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Lucas, Mr. Leonard, and Mr. Stevens as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |