| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Petty Officer Jordan Wagstaff of the U.S. Coast |
|
|
Guard is an outstanding young Texan who is paying tribute to fallen |
|
|
heroes while contributing to a worthy cause by participating in the |
|
|
first annual Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb in New York City on May |
|
|
17, 2015; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers |
|
|
Foundation and the Captain Billy Burke Foundation, this unique |
|
|
athletic event honors the memory of two New York City firefighters |
|
|
who lost their lives in the collapse of the Twin Towers on September |
|
|
11, 2001; on that fateful day, Stephen Siller of Squad 1 in Park |
|
|
Slope, Brooklyn, was off-duty when he responded without hesitation |
|
|
to help those in need at the World Trade Center, running with over |
|
|
60 pounds of gear through a blocked-off tunnel to the site of the |
|
|
disaster; Captain William Burke led and encouraged his fellow |
|
|
firefighters on their climb, calling out his support to them even as |
|
|
he remained behind to rescue two workers when the second building |
|
|
collapsed; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, During the Tunnel to Tower competition, 1,000 |
|
|
participants will reenact that heroic effort as they climb 90 |
|
|
floors, or 180 flights of stairs, in One World Trade Center, the new |
|
|
skyscraper built on the site of the original World Trade Center; the |
|
|
climb's participants will also raise money for such worthy causes |
|
|
as building 200 new homes for disabled veterans, supporting service |
|
|
members with catastrophic injuries, and funding the education of |
|
|
children who have lost a parent; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of James and Charlotte Wagstaff, Jordan |
|
|
Wagstaff was born in Nacogdoches on February 11, 1987, and attended |
|
|
Lufkin High School; answering his nation's call to duty, he |
|
|
arranged to graduate early so that he could join the U.S. Coast |
|
|
Guard in 2005; he is stationed in New York City as a duty section |
|
|
leader for the Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security unit, a |
|
|
counterterrorism effort devoted to protecting critical maritime |
|
|
infrastructure as well as the Statue of Liberty, the George |
|
|
Washington Bridge, and other important sites; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Petty Officer Wagstaff has long dedicated himself to |
|
|
the defense of our nation, and his involvement in this |
|
|
inspirational athletic competition provides a meaningful way to |
|
|
further honor the memory of two brave Americans who gave their lives |
|
|
in the service of others; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby commend U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jordan |
|
|
Wagstaff on his participation in the first annual Tunnel to Towers |
|
|
Tower Climb and recognize him for his exemplary service; and, be it |
|
|
further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Petty Officer Wagstaff as an expression of high regard |
|
|
by the Texas House of Representatives. |