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H.R. No. 66
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of Sergeant Christopher
Ramirez of McAllen are mourning the loss of this beloved man in Iraq
on April 14, 2004, at the age of 34; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Ramirez, a member of the U.S. Army, was
assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry, 1st Brigade,
1st Infantry Division, and was also attached to the U.S. Marines;
while serving his third tour of duty in Iraq, he sustained mortal
injuries during combat operations in Al Anbar Province, near
Fallujah; and
WHEREAS, This patriotic Texan was born in Edinburg and lived
there throughout most of his youth; he attended PSJA High School in
Pharr and graduated in 1989; during his senior year in high school
he joined the Army National Guard, and after receiving his diploma
he joined the army; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Ramirez saw combat in the first Gulf War
and later served for a year in Kosovo; he was deployed for the
second war with Iraq in September 2003, and although his term in the
army was to have ended in January 2004, his tour was extended for
another year; after a brief period of leave over Christmas,
Sergeant Ramirez returned to Iraq to lead the platoon for which he
felt such a deep sense of responsibility and comradeship; and
WHEREAS, Following the completion of his career in the army,
Sergeant Ramirez was looking forward to building a home in the
Valley and joining the U.S. Border Patrol; and
WHEREAS, One of 12 children, Christopher Ramirez loved
spending time with his family, including his many nieces and
nephews; he was also an enthusiastic baseball fan; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Ramirez was posthumously awarded the
Purple Heart and a Bronze Star; he was laid to rest with full
military honors in Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery in McAllen,
where some 200 individuals gathered to pay homage to this valiant
and cherished soldier; and
WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and
this country, Sergeant Ramirez embodied the highest ideals of the
armed services, and the blessing of his life will be forever
treasured by those who were privileged to share in his love and
friendship; and
WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Peña has justly recognized the
tremendous sacrifice of Sergeant Ramirez by passing this resolution
in his behalf during the 4th Called Session of the 78th Texas
Legislature; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas
Legislature, 4th Called Session, hereby pay special tribute to the
life of Sergeant Christopher Ramirez and extend sincere sympathy to
the members of his family: to his mother, Irene Ramirez; to his
father and stepmother, Simon and Rosa Maria Ramirez; to his
sisters, Sandra Yvonne Ramirez, Corrina Marie Rangel and her
husband, Jesus Baez, and Denise Margaret Marshall and her husband,
Ken; to his brothers, Eugene Darryl Ramirez, Rene Martin Ramirez,
Sergio Omar Ramirez, Marco Alberto Ramirez, Anthony Ramirez and his
wife, Dora, Ronald Stephen Ramirez and his wife, Cynthia, Simon
Ramirez, Jr., and his wife, Cynthia, and Miguel Angel Ramirez and
his wife, Brenda; to his grandmother, Katherine Galindo; to his
five nieces and five nephews; and to all his other relatives and
many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sergeant
Christopher Ramirez.
Pena
Escobar
Solis
Wise
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 66 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on May 11, 2004.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House