| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
| |
|
|
WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow caused by |
|
|
the loss of United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Joshua |
|
|
Michael Snowden of Dallas, who died while serving his country on |
|
|
July 10, 2017, at the age of 31; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The son of Gay Hayslett and Michael Snowden, Josh |
|
|
Snowden, who was also known as "Snow" by his many friends, was born |
|
|
in Abilene on July 22, 1985; he grew up in the Dallas area and played |
|
|
lacrosse as a student at Highland Park High School; following |
|
|
graduation in 2004, he decided to defer college for a while and |
|
|
enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve; he subsequently |
|
|
continued his education at Texas State University, where he played |
|
|
on the men's lacrosse team; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After completing his bachelor's degree in 2010, |
|
|
Staff Sergeant Snowden embarked on a career in the military; he was |
|
|
called to active duty in July 2012 and became a flight instructor |
|
|
and engineer for KC-130T model planes; deployed twice to Iraq, he |
|
|
earned 16 medals and awards, including the Global War on Terrorism |
|
|
Expeditionary Medal; while based with his squadron at Stewart Air |
|
|
National Guard Base in Orange County, in New York, he demonstrated |
|
|
pride in his Texas roots by maintaining a wardrobe full of Dallas |
|
|
Cowboys jerseys, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Texas flag |
|
|
button-down shirts; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In his spare time, Josh Snowden enjoyed grilling |
|
|
steaks, working on his truck, and listening to Texas country music, |
|
|
preferably all at the same time; over the years, he brightened the |
|
|
days of everyone he encountered with his irresistible smile, joyous |
|
|
sense of humor, and wonderful gift for storytelling; this |
|
|
great-hearted young man was sustained by a strong religious faith, |
|
|
and he was a valued member of the Church of the Incarnation; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Josh Snowden was deeply devoted to his friends and |
|
|
his family, whose members included, in addition to his mother and |
|
|
his father, his "second father," Rick Hayslett, his sister, Sara, |
|
|
his brothers, Drew, Tyler, Greg, and Bryan, and an older brother, |
|
|
Eric, who predeceased him; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Serving with honor, courage, and dedication, Josh |
|
|
Snowden embodied the highest ideals of the United States armed |
|
|
forces, and he will be forever cherished by those who were |
|
|
privileged to share in his love and affection; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
|
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
|
|
of Staff Sergeant Joshua Michael Snowden and extend sincere |
|
|
condolences to his loved ones and to all those who mourn his |
|
|
passing; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|
|
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of U.S. Marine |
|
|
Corps Staff Sergeant Joshua Michael Snowden. |
| |
|
|
Meyer |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 358 was unanimously adopted by a |
|
|
rising vote of the House on August 15, 2017. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |