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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 44
BY SENATORS MARIONNEAUX, ADLEY, ALARIO, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, CHABERT, CHAISSON,
CHEEK, CLAITOR, CROWE, DONAHUE, DORSEY, ERDEY, GAUTREAUX, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JACKSON, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY, MCPHERSON, MICHOT,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH, MOUNT, MURRAY, NEVERS, PERRY, PETERSON, QUINN, RISER,
SHAW, SMITH, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH AND WILLARD-LEWIS
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana to the family of United States Marine Corps Sergeant Joseph Bovia upon his
death while conducting a ground combat mission in Operation Enduring Freedom.
WHEREAS, Joseph Bovia was a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, where he graduated
from Bonnabel High School in 2004 and soon after enlisted, with his parents blessings, in
the United States Marine Corps; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Bovia's service to his country was part of a family tradition,
extending back generations to his grandfather, grand-uncle and uncle, all armed forces
veterans; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Bovia loved being a part of the Marine Corps, welcoming the
challenges, both physical and mental, as he successfully moved through the ranks and
achieved leadership roles; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Bovia volunteered for combat duty and served two highly
successful tours of duty in Iraq as part of a combat assault battalion where he distinguished
himself in action; and
WHEREAS, he and his unit, the 3
rd
Combat Assault Battalion, 3
rd
Marine Division, III
Marine Expeditionary Force, were based out of Okinawa, Japan, when he turned down an
offer to serve stateside as a demolitions instructor and volunteered for a third combat tour,
this time to Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Bovia, a highly trained combat engineer, was assigned the
dangerous task of leading a leatherneck element that hunted for improvised explosive
devices planted along roadsides heavily traveled by American forces; and SR NO. 44 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, twenty-four year old Sergeant Bovia was leading such a mission with Echo
Company, August 31, 2010, in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province in southern
Afghanistan when he and his men engaged enemy forces in a fierce firefight and the veteran
of past combat patrols was mortally wounded by the intense ground fire that ensued; and
WHEREAS, while friends, family and loved ones will sorely miss Sergeant Bovia and
the outstanding example of service and sacrifice for his country that he represented through
his brave actions, they are also filled with pride to have known and loved such a truly
patriotic American.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby extend its deepest sympathy and condolences to the family of United States Marine
Corps Sergeant Joseph Bovia for their immeasurable loss and his ultimate sacrifice in his
country's war on terror.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Sergeant Joseph Bovia.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE