| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Justin Rokohl of Orange Grove has |
|
|
rendered valiant service in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of the |
|
|
United States Marine Corps; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A 2005 graduate of Orange Grove High School, |
|
|
Corporal Rokohl followed a long-standing family tradition when he |
|
|
joined the armed forces; trained as a machine gunner, he served in |
|
|
Iraq in 2007 and has most recently been deployed to Afghanistan as a |
|
|
member of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, Company G, |
|
|
Weapons Platoon; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Corporal Rokohl sustained serious injuries on the |
|
|
morning of June 19, 2008, when the Humvee in which he was riding was |
|
|
struck by an IED; blown out of the vehicle, he was pulled to safety |
|
|
by fellow marines, and since then he has undergone multiple |
|
|
surgeries, both in Germany and the United States; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Throughout his ordeal, Corporal Rokohl's |
|
|
indomitable spirit has continued to shine through; renowned among |
|
|
his family and friends for his love of life, this courageous Texan |
|
|
is tackling his recovery with the same no-holds-barred |
|
|
determination that he has brought to all his endeavors; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Corporal Rokohl and his family are integral members |
|
|
of the Orange Grove community and the Cross Trails Cowboy Church, |
|
|
and their neighbors and fellow congregants have been staunchly |
|
|
supportive of their hometown hero; one measure of the esteem in |
|
|
which Corporal Rokohl is held was evident in the overwhelming |
|
|
response to a blood drive that was organized in his honor; people |
|
|
came from as far away as Alice and Corpus Christi, and a second |
|
|
blood center bus had to be called in to accommodate all those |
|
|
wishing to donate; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The grit and tenacity that Justin Rokohl brings to |
|
|
his work as a marine are the same qualities that led him to be named |
|
|
an all-district defensive end on his high school football team; |
|
|
endowed with natural athletic ability, he also ran track, and he is |
|
|
currently intent on honing his roping skills; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Corporal Rokohl's devotion to service has kindled an |
|
|
interest in a law enforcement career, following his return to |
|
|
civilian life; he has expressed a desire to join the border patrol |
|
|
and ultimately to serve as sheriff of Jim Wells County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, On July 3, 2008, President George W. Bush personally |
|
|
presented a Purple Heart medal and citation to Corporal Rokohl at |
|
|
the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In the face of great hardship and danger, Corporal |
|
|
Rokohl has embodied the highest ideals of the United States Marine |
|
|
Corps, and he has earned the lasting respect and gratitude of all |
|
|
Americans; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby honor Marine Lance Corporal Justin Rokohl for |
|
|
his steadfast service to this country and extend to him sincere best |
|
|
wishes for the future; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Corporal Rokohl as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |
| |
|
|
Gonzalez Toureilles |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1329 was adopted by the House on April |
|
|
15, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |