|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, March 27, 2015, was indeed a momentous day in the |
|
life of eight-year-old Rowan Windham, for on that day he became an |
|
honorary member of the Texas Army National Guard at a special |
|
enlistment ceremony at Camp Mabry; and |
|
WHEREAS, Rowan has been diagnosed with a rare disorder known |
|
as Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, which affects multiple organ |
|
systems; he has spent more than 900 days in the hospital, during |
|
which time he has endured dozens of blood transfusions and some 70 |
|
trips to the operating room; all the while, he has met the |
|
challenges of his illness with unfailing grace and courage, and he |
|
has inspired others with his ability to find joy in the simple |
|
things of life; and |
|
WHEREAS, A resident of New Braunfels, Rowan is supported by |
|
his loving parents, Carrie Windham and Brian Windham, who served in |
|
the United States Navy, and by his older brother, Ian; motivated by |
|
a sense of patriotism and a selfless desire to help others, Rowan |
|
has dreamed of one day following in his father's footsteps as a |
|
member of the military, and his dream was fulfilled during a |
|
surprise visit to Camp Mabry, headquarters of the Texas Army |
|
National Guard; and |
|
WHEREAS, The experience of a lifetime for Rowan began when he |
|
and his family arrived at the base and were greeted by service |
|
members at all levels of command; Rowan and his brother then rode in |
|
a World War II-era Jeep to a building where Rowan was given his own |
|
army-issued uniform and dog tags; standing before a crowd of 300 |
|
national guard members, state and local officials, and members of |
|
the media, Rowan was inducted into the national guard as an honorary |
|
lifetime soldier; and |
|
WHEREAS, During the emotional ceremony, the host for the |
|
occasion, Staff Sergeant Mireya Cruz, expressed how Rowan |
|
exemplified the army's core values, saying, "Despite mental and |
|
physical adversities that many adults could not manage, Rowan has |
|
consistently demonstrated trust in his faith, [a] humble spirit, |
|
and compassion for others, all of which he has placed before his own |
|
personal needs"; and |
|
WHEREAS, Brigadier General Sean Ryan, deputy commander of the |
|
Texas Army National Guard, then administered the honorary |
|
enlistment oath to Rowan and presented the guard's newest solider |
|
with the division's traditional Stetson hat and spurs; Ian was also |
|
singled out for recognition and was awarded a medal for his care and |
|
protection of his younger brother; and |
|
WHEREAS, This well-deserved tribute was initiated by |
|
Sergeant David Hixson, a combat medic in the national guard who had |
|
treated Rowan while working as a civilian nurse's aide; in |
|
addition, numerous other individuals at Camp Mabry helped to make |
|
possible the day's events, which included a special tour of the base |
|
for Rowan and Ian; and |
|
WHEREAS, At only eight years old, Rowan Windham has shown a |
|
deep commitment to his country and a maturity well beyond his years, |
|
and it is a great privilege to honor this remarkable young Texan in |
|
concert with the valiant service members who have welcomed him into |
|
their ranks; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Private First Class Rowan Windham |
|
on his enlistment as an honorary member of the Texas Army National |
|
Guard and extend to Rowan and his family sincere best wishes for the |
|
future; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for the Windham family as an expression of high regard by |
|
the Texas House of Representatives. |
|
|
Miller of Comal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anderson of Dallas |
Hernandez |
Phelan |
|
|
Anderson of McLennan |
Herrero |
Phillips |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bonnen of Brazoria |
Johnson |
Rinaldi |
|
|
Bonnen of Galveston |
Kacal |
Rodriguez of Bexar |
|
|
Burkett |
Keffer |
Rodriguez of Travis |
|
|
|
|
Burrows |
King of Hemphill |
Rose |
|
|
Button |
King of Parker |
Sanford |
|
|
Canales |
King of Taylor |
Schaefer |
|
|
Capriglione |
King of Uvalde |
Schofield |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Craddick |
Landgraf |
Simmons |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Davis of Dallas |
Lozano |
Springer |
|
|
Davis of Harris |
Lucio III |
Stephenson |
|
|
Deshotel |
Márquez |
Stickland |
|
|
Dukes |
Martinez |
Thompson of Brazoria |
|
|
Dutton |
Martinez Fischer |
Thompson of Harris |
|
|
Elkins |
McClendon |
Tinderholt |
|
|
Faircloth |
Metcalf |
Turner of Collin |
|
|
Fallon |
Meyer |
Turner of Harris |
|
|
Farias |
Miles |
Turner of Tarrant |
|
|
Farney |
Miller of Comal |
VanDeaver |
|
|
Farrar |
Miller of Fort Bend |
Villalba |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frank |
Morrison |
White of Bell |
|
|
Frullo |
Muñoz, Jr. |
White of Tyler |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1963 was adopted by the House on May 6, |
|
2015, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|