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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 Sergeant Joshua |
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Michael suffered an immeasurable loss with his death in a tragic |
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accident on November 15, 2012, at the age of 34; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Michael performed his last act of heroism |
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when he saved the life of his wife by thrusting her out of harm's |
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way, just before the parade float on which they were riding was |
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struck by a locomotive; the parade was part of the Hunt for Heroes |
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event, a program sponsored by Show of Support, which invites |
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injured veterans to West Texas to participate in a white-tailed |
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deer hunt; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Hereford, Joshua Michael met his wife, |
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Daylyn, while both were students at Amarillo College; the couple |
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subsequently made their home in Amarillo, and Sergeant Michael went |
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to work as a paramedic for Northwest Texas Healthcare System; soon |
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after the attacks of September 11, 2001, however, he followed in his |
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family's long tradition of military and public service and enlisted |
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in the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, After completing basic training at Fort Benning, |
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Georgia, Sergeant Michael was deployed to Iraq with the 101st |
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Airborne Division (Air Assault); he took part in the initial |
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invasion of the country and served another tour there in 2005-2006; |
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during his second deployment to Iraq, he sustained multiple severe |
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injuries that forced him to retire from active duty; among the |
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military awards conferred on this valiant American were two Purple |
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Hearts and three Army Commendation Medals; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, Sergeant |
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Michael and his family moved to Converse and he sold real estate in |
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the San Antonio area; Joshua Michael was deeply devoted to his wife, |
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his son, Ryan, and his daughter, Maci, and the time that he was able |
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to spend with them meant the world to him; and |
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WHEREAS, In a brief autobiographical sketch that Sergeant |
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Michael prepared for Show of Support, he expressed his gratitude |
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for his nearly 10 years with the army and wrote, "I wouldn't change |
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anything that happened. I am a better man, husband and father |
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because of my service"; yet it is our nation that is better for |
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having had among its citizens a father and husband as selfless, |
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generous, and courageous as Joshua Michael; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant |
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Joshua Michael and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife of 15 years, Daylyn Michael; to his children, |
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Ryan and Maci Michael; to his parents, Patrick and Sheryl Michael; |
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to his parents-in-law, Ron and Mary Hefley; and to his other |
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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 U.S. Army |
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Sergeant Joshua Michael. |
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Price |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 3167 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 27, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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