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78S40637 MMS-D

By:  Pena                                                         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.