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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt at |
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the loss of U.S. Army Reserve Captain Shane Mahaffee, who died on |
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May 15, 2006, at the age of 36, from wounds he sustained while |
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serving his country in Iraq; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on June 5, 1969, Shane Mahaffee graduated from |
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Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, in 1991; he was |
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commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and served eight years in the |
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active U.S. Army Reserve, during which time he rose to the rank of |
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captain and earned a doctor of jurisprudence degree from Widener |
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University School of Law in Pennsylvania; a practicing attorney in |
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Waukegan, Illinois, he remained a member of the reserve until |
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January 2006, when he was recalled to active duty for his special |
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skills as an airborne infantry officer; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Mahaffee was widely admired among friends |
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and associates in the legal community for his composure, |
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reliability, and dedication to his clients; assigned to the 2nd |
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Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, he brought much of |
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those same traits to the battlefield, where his first concern was |
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the protection of his fellow soldiers; despite the dangerous nature |
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of his assignment, he took great pride in his work and was committed |
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to fulfilling his mission to the very best of his ability; his |
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courageous actions earned him the Combat Infantry Badge and the |
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Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals; and |
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WHEREAS, A loving husband and proud father, Captain Mahaffee |
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arranged for his wife of eight years, Jennifer Mahaffee, to receive |
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a bouquet of flowers each month during his absence, and he drew |
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inspiration from his children, Adelia Rose and Ethan Edward; and |
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WHEREAS, Our state and nation are fortunate to have men and |
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women whose love of country leads them to military duty, and time |
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can never diminish the profound debt that Americans owe to Captain |
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Mahaffee for the service he undertook and the sacrifice he |
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rendered; and |
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WHEREAS, Although his passing has left a void in the lives of |
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those who were blessed with his love and friendship, Shane Mahaffee |
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will long be remembered for the integrity, valor, and selflessness |
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with which he lived his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Captain Shane |
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Mahaffee and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: |
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to his wife, Jennifer Mahaffee; to his children, Adelia Rose and |
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Ethan Edward; to his parents, Steve and Betty Martin and Hannelore |
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and Skip Mahaffee; to his brothers, Timothy Martin and his wife, |
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Tracy, and Brian Martin and his wife, Leah; to his sisters, Tiffany |
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Willett and her husband, Don, and Amy Mennecke and her husband, |
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Erik; to his grandparents, Jean Martin and Herbert Reichert; and to |
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his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Captain |
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Shane Mahaffee. |