|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Sergeant Joshua |
|
Michael suffered an immeasurable loss with his death in a tragic |
|
accident on November 15, 2012, at the age of 34; and |
|
WHEREAS, Sergeant Michael performed his last act of heroism |
|
when he saved the life of his wife by thrusting her out of harm's |
|
way, just before the parade float on which they were riding was |
|
struck by a locomotive; the parade was part of the Hunt for Heroes |
|
event, a program sponsored by Show of Support, which invites |
|
injured veterans to West Texas to participate in a white-tailed |
|
deer hunt; and |
|
WHEREAS, A native of Hereford, Joshua Michael met his wife, |
|
Daylyn, while both were students at Amarillo College; the couple |
|
subsequently made their home in Amarillo, and Sergeant Michael went |
|
to work as a paramedic for Northwest Texas Healthcare System; soon |
|
after the attacks of September 11, 2001, however, he followed in his |
|
family's long tradition of military and public service and enlisted |
|
in the U.S. Army; and |
|
WHEREAS, After completing basic training at Fort Benning, |
|
Georgia, Sergeant Michael was deployed to Iraq with the 101st |
|
Airborne Division (Air Assault); he took part in the initial |
|
invasion of the country and served another tour there in 2005-2006; |
|
during his second deployment to Iraq, he sustained multiple severe |
|
injuries that forced him to retire from active duty; among the |
|
military awards conferred on this valiant American were two Purple |
|
Hearts and three Army Commendation Medals; and |
|
WHEREAS, Following his return to civilian life, Sergeant |
|
Michael and his family moved to Converse and he sold real estate in |
|
the San Antonio area; Joshua Michael was deeply devoted to his wife, |
|
his son, Ryan, and his daughter, Maci, and the time that he was able |
|
to spend with them meant the world to him; and |
|
WHEREAS, In a brief autobiographical sketch that Sergeant |
|
Michael prepared for Show of Support, he expressed his gratitude |
|
for his nearly 10 years with the army and wrote, "I wouldn't change |
|
anything that happened. I am a better man, husband and father |
|
because of my service"; yet it is our nation that is better for |
|
having had among its citizens a father and husband as selfless, |
|
generous, and courageous as Joshua Michael; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant |
|
Joshua Michael and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his |
|
family: to his wife of 15 years, Daylyn Michael; to his children, |
|
Ryan and Maci Michael; to his parents, Patrick and Sheryl Michael; |
|
to his parents-in-law, Ron and Mary Hefley; and to his other |
|
relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of U.S. Army |
|
Sergeant Joshua Michael. |