2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 88
BY SENATORS PERRY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR, COLOMB,
CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS,
LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH,
MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PETERSON,
RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON,
WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of Louisiana to the family of U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant Matthew Mackey upon his death, July 28, 2010, while in the service
of his country.
WHEREAS, Matthew Mackey was a native of Midland, Texas, born December 17,
1976, to Lyndon and Diane Williams Mackey, and graduated from Cahoma High School in
1995; and
WHEREAS, he began a career in the armed forces eighteen days after his high school
graduation by enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps and successfully completing the tough
training required of all marines at the Marine Corps Recruiting Depot on Paris Island, South
Carolina; and
WHEREAS, after his initial enlistment in the Marine Corps was complete, Matthew's
plans changed, and he joined the U.S. Army National Guard in order to stay in the military
and pursue his dream of earning a college degree; and
WHEREAS, he would marry Kaanan Anderson in Jacksonville, North Carolina, in
1998, and they began raising a family during the periods he and his unit were not deployed
overseas; and
WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey felt truly blessed for his loving wife, Kaanan, and his five
children, Alexis, Jonathan, Chloe, Aiden, and Hana, who all gave him great joy and
fulfillment; and
WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey served his country bravely in Operation Enduring
Freedom/Noble Eagle in 2004, and Operation Iraqi Freedom from October of 2008 to
October of 2009; and
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WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey was enrolled in classes at Indian Hills Community
College after his return from combat, taking instructions in aviation in order to fulfill a
lifelong passion for flying; and
WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey was thirty-three years old and riding the motorcycle that
gave him that feeling of flying when he was involved in a traffic accident that took his life
on July 28, 2010, while his wife, Kaanan, held him in her arms at Mercy Hospital in Des
Moines, Iowa, in a final, loving embrace; and
WHEREAS, SSG. Mackey's awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service
Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with oakleaf cluster,
the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve
Components Achievement Medal, the National Defense Medal with bronze service star,
Iraqi Campaign Medal with bronze service star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Noncommissioned Officer
Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Sea
Service Deployment Ribbon, and Driver and Mechanic Badge with Wheeled Device.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family of U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant Matthew Mackey for their terrible loss and his courageous service.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
wife, Kaanan Mackey.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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