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