By: Springer, et al. S.R. No. 6
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
SENATE RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, On September 11, 2001, our nation was forever
  changed by the deadliest terrorist attack to take place on
  American soil, and as we observe the 20th anniversary of that
  tragedy, it is fitting that we pay tribute to the courage and
  heroism that shone on one of our country's darkest days and in the
  challenging years that followed; and
         WHEREAS, On that infamous morning, terrorist hijackers
  seized four civilian airliners, using two of them to bring down
  the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and
  another to explode into the Pentagon; the fourth airplane, United
  Flight 93, believed to be targeting the United States Capitol,
  crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside thanks to the heroic
  resistance of its passengers; altogether, nearly 3,000 innocent
  people lost their lives, including more than 400 New York first
  responders, 184 individuals at the Pentagon, and the 40
  passengers of Flight 93; and
         WHEREAS, Among those who survived the attack on the
  Pentagon was United States Army Lieutenant Colonel Brian
  Birdwell, who had already distinguished himself throughout his
  over-17 years of duty in the armed forces; while working in his
  second floor office when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into
  the Pentagon building, he was critically wounded and received
  burns over more than 60 percent of his body; this valiant officer
  was hospitalized for months as he endured 39 operations and a
  number of skin grafts; he was awarded the Purple Heart, and upon
  his retirement from the army in July 2004, he was further honored
  with the Legion of Merit medal; along with his wife, Mel
  Birdwell, he later founded a nonprofit organization, Face the
  Fire Ministries, to support survivors of severe burns, wounded
  service members, and their families; in 2010 Lieutenant Colonel,
  Retired, Birdwell continued his public service when he was
  elected to the Texas Senate; and
         WHEREAS, While September 11, 2001, will forever be
  remembered as a day of tragedy and loss, we also remember the
  selfless determination of law enforcement officers,
  firefighters, and other rescue workers who charged into danger
  that morning and in the days after; these first responders
  continued to show up and search for survivors and remains in the
  days and weeks after the attacks, and many of these heroes lost
  their lives assisting the people who were trapped and injured;
  and
         WHEREAS, Texans have accounted for a significant number of
  men and women of the United States Armed Forces who lost their
  lives or were wounded when answering the call to action in
  locations around the globe as our country responded to the
  terrorist threat; and
         WHEREAS, Texas and The United States has long been a beacon
  of hope for vulnerable and disenfranchised people around the
  world, and the State of Texas has long valued and defended the
  principles of democracy, individual liberty, freedom of speech,
  and freedom of religion; as citizens of conscience of this great
  land, we bear both the responsibility and the honor to raise our
  voices to honor and tell the story of survival and resilience in
  order to remember the valor that was demonstrated by countless
  people on September 11, 2001, and in its aftermath; the roll call
  of honor that includes everyone from the first responders and
  ordinary civilians who came to the aid of victims, to the living
  friends and loved ones of those who perished; and
         WHEREAS, the 20th anniversary of 9/11 offers an
  appropriate opportunity to pay tribute to all of the heroes who
  emerged from that tragedy and to acknowledge the sacrifice and
  determination that has enabled our nation to endure; now,
  therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 87th Texas Legislature,
  3rd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 20th anniversary of
  the September 11 terrorist attacks and all those who have
  sacrificed in dedicated service to our state and country as a
  result of that fateful day.