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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant First Class Gary Lamar |
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Collins of Chambers County was killed in action while courageously |
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serving his country in Iraq, and his heroism and sacrifice are being |
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honored at the Concert for Hope in Winnie on June 13, 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Hosted by the Differe |
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nt Rhythm Foundation, which |
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combats terrorism and the extinction of keystone species in Africa, |
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this event is the only full-day military tribute in the state; |
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proceeds will benefit the Crystal Beach Retreat Facility of the |
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nonprofit Lone Survivor Foundation, an organization dedicated to |
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caring for wounded servicemembers and their families and to helping |
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veterans transition back into civilian life; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry |
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Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, |
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Kansas, Sergeant Collins was a longtime member of the army and was |
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certified as both an airborne specialist and a ranger; after |
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serving in Bosnia, he was deployed to Iraq, where he was killed by |
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an improvised explosive device in Fallujah on November 8, 2003, |
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becoming the 13th fallen member of the U.S. armed forces from Fort |
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Riley during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, During his decorated military career, Sergeant |
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Collins earned seven Army Achievement Medals, three Army |
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Commendation Medals, and the prestigious Expert Infantryman Badge, |
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and he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple |
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Heart and promoted to sergeant first class; and |
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WHEREAS, Gary Collins was born on May 18, 1971, and graduated |
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in 1990 from Magnolia High School, where he distinguished himself |
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as captain of the football team and as a member of the baseball and |
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track and field teams and was voted class favorite for four |
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consecutive years; he married his high school sweetheart, the |
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former Kassandra Kennedy, on February 2, 1992, and the couple |
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became the loving parents of two children, Taylor and Landry; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to those |
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who have answered this nation's call to duty, and the special |
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recognition given to Sergeant Collins by the Different Rhythm |
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Foundation will serve to further perpetuate the memory of this |
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brave soldier for many years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant |
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First Class Gary Lamar Collins and commemorate the 2015 Concert for |
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Hope. |
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Faircloth |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2994 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 30, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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