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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The friends and family of United States Army |
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Specialist Donald Allen Burkett of Comanche suffered an |
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immeasurable loss with the death of this valiant soldier on March |
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10, 2008, at the age of 24, while serving his country in Iraq; and |
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WHEREAS, A proud member of the 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored |
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Cavalry Regiment, based at Fort Hood, Specialist Burkett was killed |
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when his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Balad Ruz; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, "Wesley" Burkett was born in Brownwood on January |
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27, 1984; he attended Zephyr High School, where he participated in |
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UIL academic competition, and went on to Ranger Junior College; he |
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married the former Brandi Peel on December 18, 2005, and joined the |
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army in April 2006 as an armor crewman; this devoted family man |
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bought a house in Killeen for his wife and their son and spent as |
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much time as possible with them before his deployment to Iraq in |
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November 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his positive attitude, quiet |
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intelligence, and endearing smile, Specialist Burkett was deeply |
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committed to providing a good life for his family, and was looking |
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forward to furthering his education in order to advance in his |
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military career; he was a member of the VFW Killeen Chapter and |
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received a number of decorations, including the National Defense |
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Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Army Service |
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Medal, the Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart; and |
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WHEREAS, Our state and nation are fortunate to have young men |
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and women whose love of country leads them to military duty, and the |
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passage of time can never diminish the profound debt that Americans |
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owe to Wesley Burkett for the service he undertook and the sacrifice |
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he rendered; 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 Specialist Donald |
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Allen Burkett and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Brandi Burkett; to his son, Mason Burkett; to |
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his mother, Carolyn Gray; to his brothers, Jayson Brown and Wayne |
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Burkett; to his grandmother, Linnie Faye Gray; to his |
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mother-in-law, Amy Bailey; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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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 Wesley |
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Burkett. |