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