H.R. No. 721



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The family and friends of Corporal Brian Matthew 
Kennedy of Houston suffered a great loss with the passing of this 
courageous young man at the age of 25 during the Iraqi campaign; and
	WHEREAS, Corporal Kennedy, crew chief of a CH-46E Sea Knight 
helicopter, was lost with three fellow U.S. marines and eight 
British marines when their aircraft went down during the coalition 
drive on Umm Qasr, in southern Iraq, on March 20-21, 2003; and
	WHEREAS, A five-year U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Corporal 
Kennedy joined the service in 1999 and trained as a CH-46 Sea Knight 
helicopter mechanic and crew chief; before his deployment to the 
Persian Gulf, he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California; and
	WHEREAS, This accomplished marine was raised in Glenview, 
Illinois, and attended Glenbrook South High School, where he earned 
membership in the National Honor Society and excelled at athletics; 
his skills on the gridiron helped his football team reach the 
conference championship game his junior year, while his prowess 
with a stick won him selection to the all-state lacrosse team; and
	WHEREAS, After graduating from high school in 1995, Corporal 
Kennedy studied mechanical engineering at Purdue University and 
Texas Tech University; he also played lacrosse while at Purdue and 
joined the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity; and
	WHEREAS, In his leisure time, he especially enjoyed the 
challenges of rock climbing, the pleasures of golf, and the rewards 
of cooking and grilling; and
	WHEREAS, Americans owe an immeasurable debt to the nation's 
military personnel, who have served valiantly throughout this 
country's history and whose efforts and sacrifice in their 
country's behalf are deserving of their fellow citizens' deepest 
gratitude; and
	WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and 
his country, Corporal Kennedy embodied the highest ideals of the 
armed services, and the blessing of his life will be forever 
cherished by those who were privileged to share his love and 
friendship; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Corporal 
Brian Matthew Kennedy and extend sincere sympathy to his family 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 Corporal 
Brian Matthew Kennedy.

                                                                    Harper-Brown


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 721 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 28, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House