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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Corporal Mathew |
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LaForest of Austin suffered an immeasurable loss with the death of |
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this courageous young man on May 25, 2007, at the age of 21; and |
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WHEREAS, Corporal LaForest was killed in combat in Taji, |
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Iraq, while bravely serving his nation as a member of the 4th |
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Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, |
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2nd Infantry Division, based at Fort Lewis, Washington; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on February 7, 1986, at Clark Air Force Base in |
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the Philippines, Mathew LaForest was the son of Mark LaForest and |
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Deborah Turner; a 2004 graduate of Bowie High School in Austin, he |
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was a member of the Bowie Band and the Junior Reserve Officers' |
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Training Corps, and he played soccer with the Austin United Soccer |
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Club; his military service began shortly after he finished high |
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school when he enlisted in the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Corporal LaForest was known for his quiet, easygoing |
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personality and his willingness to help anyone who needed a hand; he |
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enjoyed racing his car and spending time with friends, and his quick |
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and endearing smile was treasured by all who knew him; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unwavering dedication to duty, honor, |
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and this country, Corporal LaForest embodied the highest ideals of |
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the United States armed services, and his fellow citizens owe him a |
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debt of remembrance that the passage of time can never diminish; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Corporal |
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Mathew LaForest and extend deepest condolences to the members of |
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his family: to his father, Mark LaForest, and his wife, Suzette; to |
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his mother, Deborah Baughn, and her husband, Dana; to his sister, |
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Jessica LaForest; to his brothers, Devon Mitchell and Brandon |
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Baughn; to his grandparents, Judy LaForest and Donald and Sandra |
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Turner; to his uncles, Bill and Mike LaForest; to his aunts, Lonnee |
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Rorison and her husband, Steve, and Tammy Lacy and her husband, |
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Mike; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it |
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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 U.S. Army |
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Corporal Mathew LaForest. |