H.R. No. 3111
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the loss of Albert
Abraham of Marshall, who died on February 22, 2009, at the age of
89; and
WHEREAS, Albert Abraham was born in Marshall on November 19,
1919, to Louis Charles Abraham and Helena Haddad Abraham; he
graduated from Marshall High School and the College of Marshall,
now East Texas Baptist University; and
WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty during World War
II, Mr. Abraham enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was trained
as a fighter pilot; after initially patrolling the airspace over
the Panama Canal, he was transferred to the China-Burma-India
theater, where he flew P-51 Mustang fighters in close support of
Allied ground troops, destroying enemy installations from the air;
at one point during the war, this brave American flew 35 combat
missions in 53 days; he was later captured and spent time as a
prisoner of war; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Abraham's courage and sacrifice during the war
were recognized with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal
with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the American Defense
Service Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze
Stars, the American Campaign Medal with one Bronze Star, the Unit
Citation Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, the Presidential
Testimonial, and the POW Medal; and
WHEREAS, Discharged after the war with the rank of major,
Albert Abraham returned to Marshall and married Adrah Marie Ryan in
1946; he owned and operated Abraham Grocery until his retirement in
1982 and he played an active role in his community as a member of
Masonic Lodge No. 22, the Shriners Club, and the Optimist Club; he
was also a member of the Gideon Society, and he sat on the alumni
board of East Texas Baptist University; and
WHEREAS, Deeply loyal to his fellow service members, Mr.
Abraham held an appointment to the Veterans' Land Board of the
General Land Office, and he earned a certificate of recognition for
his work in behalf of veterans in the Lone Star State; he was a
member of both the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars;
and
WHEREAS, Albert Abraham dedicated his life to serving his
family, his community, and his nation, and he will forever be
remembered with warm affection by all those who knew and loved him;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Albert Abraham and
extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife
of 62 years, Adrah Abraham; to his daughter, Theresa Crawford; to
his son, Charles Abraham, and his wife, Lisa; to his sister, Joyce
Haddad; to his sister-in-law, Doris Abraham; to his grandchildren,
Courtney Crawford, Michael Crawford, Jeffrey Abraham, Justin
Abraham, and Briana Abraham; to his great-grandchildren; and to his
other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Albert
Abraham.
Hughes
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 3111 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on June 1, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House