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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 315
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In Memory |
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of |
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Christopher Scott Kyle |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas and the entire nation are |
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mourning the tragic loss of Christopher Scott Kyle of Midlothian, an |
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American hero who died on February 2, 2013, at the age of 38; and |
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WHEREAS, Chris Kyle was born in Odessa on April 8, 1974, to |
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Wayne and Deby Kyle; growing up on his parents' ranch, he enjoyed |
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an active life; he learned marksmanship at an early age, hunting |
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deer and pheasant, and when he was older, he challenged himself |
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further as a professional bronco and bull rider; and |
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WHEREAS, After studying ranch and range management for two |
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years at Tarleton State University and then working as a ranch |
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hand, Mr. Kyle answered his nation's call to duty and joined the |
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U.S. Navy in 1999; his skill and determination quickly led to his |
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transfer to the SEALs, the navy's elite special operations force, |
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where he prevailed throughout the team's strenuous selection |
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process and was chosen to receive sniper training; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout four combat tours, Mr. Kyle served |
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with SEAL Team 3 in the thick of battle in such places as Ramadi, |
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Fallujah, and Baghdad, and his exceptional ability as a marksman |
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enabled him to save countless American lives and earned him |
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legendary status as the most successful sniper in U.S. history; |
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his outstanding record was recognized with two Silver Stars and |
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five Bronze Stars with Valor, among many other decorations; |
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following his combat deployments, he served as a chief instructor |
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for training other navy snipers, and he wrote the first Navy SEAL |
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sniper manual; and |
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WHEREAS, Chris Kyle retired from the navy in 2009 as a |
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chief petty officer and returned to his family in Texas; his |
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combat memoir, American Sniper, became a worldwide bestseller, |
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with proceeds from the book going to the families of two fellow |
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SEALs who were killed in battle; in addition, he cofounded Craft |
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International, which trains military, police, and civilian |
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security forces, and he also appeared on the NBC show Stars Earn |
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Stripes; and |
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WHEREAS, More importantly, Mr. Kyle devoted himself to |
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caring for his fellow veterans, and he helped found the FITCO |
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Cares Foundation, which provides at-home fitness equipment to |
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veterans recovering from the emotional and physical wounds of |
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war; his commitment to the support of servicemen and servicewomen |
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and their families was heartfelt, deep, and enduring; and |
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WHEREAS, Chris Kyle was an outstanding soldier, a humble |
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patriot, a man of strong faith, and a loving husband, father, |
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son, and brother; his generosity, good humor, and compassion |
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encompassed not just those closest to him, but all those men and |
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women who accept, as he did, both the sacrifice and the privilege |
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of serving their nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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83rd Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Christopher |
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Scott Kyle and extend heartfelt condolences to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Taya, and their two children; to his parents, |
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Wayne and Deby Kyle; to his brother, Jeff Kyle, his wife, Amy, and |
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their two daughters; to his grandmothers, Joyce Kyle and Louise |
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Mercer; to his parents-in-law, Kent and Kim Studebaker; to his |
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sister-in-law, Ashley Purvis-Smith, her husband, Stewart, and their |
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four children; and to his other relatives, friends, and many admirers |
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across the Lone Star State and beyond; 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 Senate adjourns |
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this day, it do so in memory of Chris Kyle. |
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| Campbell |
Hegar |
Schwertner |
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| Duncan |
Nelson |
Van de Putte |
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| Fraser |
Rodriguez |
Williams |
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Dewhurst, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 4, 2013, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |