SLS 17RS-84 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 88
BY SENATOR PERRY
CONDOLENCES. Expresses the condolences of the Louisiana Senate upon the death of
U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Mackey.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of Louisiana to the family of U.S. Army
3 Staff Sergeant Matthew Mackey upon his death, July 28, 2010, while in the service
4 of his country.
5 WHEREAS, Matthew Mackey was a native of Midland, Texas, born December 17,
6 1976, to Lyndon and Diane Williams Mackey, and graduated from Cahoma High School in
7 1995; and
8 WHEREAS, he began a career in the armed forces of his country eighteen days after
9 his high school graduation by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps and successfully
10 completing the tough training required of all Marines at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot
11 on Paris Island, South Carolina; and
12 WHEREAS, after his initial enlistment in the Marine Corps was complete, Matthew's
13 plans changed and he joined the U.S. Army National Guard in order to stay in the military
14 and pursue his dream of earning a college degree; and
15 WHEREAS, he would marry Kaanan Anderson in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in
16 1998, and they began raising a family during the periods he and his unit were not deployed
17 overseas; and
18 WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey felt truly blessed for his loving wife, Kaanan, and his five
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SLS 17RS-84 ORIGINAL
1 children, Alexis, Jonathan, Chloe, Aiden, and Hana, who all gave him great joy and
2 fulfillment; and
3 WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey served his country bravely in Operation Enduring
4 Freedom/Noble Eagle in 2004, and Operation Iraqi Freedom from October of 2008 to
5 October of 2009; and
6 WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey was enrolled in classes at Indian Hills Community
7 College after his return from combat, taking instructions in aviation in order to fulfill a
8 lifelong passion for flying; and
9 WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey was thirty-three years old and riding the motorcycle that
10 gave him that feeling of flying when he was involved in a traffic accident that took his life
11 on July 28, 2010, while his wife, Kaanan, held him in her arms at Mercy Hospital in Des
12 Moines, Iowa, in a final, loving embrace; and
13 WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service
14 Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with oakleaf cluster,
15 the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve
16 Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal with bronze service star,
17 Iraqi Campaign Medal with bronze service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
18 Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Noncommissioned Officer
19 Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Sea
20 Service Deployment Ribbon, and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Wheeled Device.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
22 does hereby extend its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of U.S. Army
23 Staff Sergeant Matthew Mackey for their terrible loss and his courageous service.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
25 wife, Kaanan Mackey.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
SR 88 Original 2017 Regular Session Perry
Expresses condolences upon the death of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Mackey.
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