H.R. No. 964R 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. Woolley ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 964 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 23, 2003. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House