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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Chuck and Michelle Wright of Frisco played an |
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essential role in correcting the tombstone of a Texan who lost his |
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life while serving during World War II, and they are truly deserving |
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of special commendation for their successful efforts; and |
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WHEREAS, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Burton E. Burfeind was born |
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in Decatur on September 28, 1922, and he served with the 115th |
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Regiment of the 29th Infantry Division; he took part in the D-Day |
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invasion of Normandy on June 6, and on September 8, 1944, he was |
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killed in action in Brittany; he was subsequently buried in a |
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cemetery in Rusk County; and |
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WHEREAS, Years later, fellow soldier Bill Welch, whose life |
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was saved by Sergeant Burfeind during World War II, discovered that |
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the sergeant's headstone inscription listed the wrong infantry |
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division; with the assistance of the Burfeind family, he attempted |
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to have it corrected, but ran into a number of roadblocks; in March |
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2015, Chuck and Michelle Wright took up the cause and were |
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ultimately able to ensure that the sergeant was properly honored, |
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restoring him to his rightful place in the 29th Infantry Division; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A veteran himself, Chuck Wright was a decorated |
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helicopter pilot in the marine corps, and since leaving the |
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military, he has continued to be a champion for servicemen and women |
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as the host of the program Alliance 4 the Brave on KVCE-AM radio, as |
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a member of the Marine Corps League, and as a leader in the Texas |
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chapter of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; and |
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WHEREAS, Michelle Wright is active in raising the couple's |
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two sons, Mason and Travis, and she has served as a Cub Scout leader |
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and engaged in other civic activities; she has also devoted much |
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time to researching the family's genealogy, tracing it back seven |
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generations to one of Stephen F. Austin's original 300 settlers; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Thanks to the dedication and hard work of these |
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patriotic Texans, a brave American who gave his life to defend this |
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country has been properly honored for his sacrifice, and Chuck and |
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Michelle Wright may indeed take great pride in this important |
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achievement; 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 Chuck and Michelle Wright for correcting |
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the headstone of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Burton E. Burfeind and |
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honor them for their selfless service in behalf of Texas veterans; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Wright as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |