| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt by |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | the family and friends of U.S. Army Specialist Keith Erin Grace Jr. |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | of Baytown, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on August 11, |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | 2013, at the age of 26; and |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Assigned to the 4th Battalion, 320th Field Artillery |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, based |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Specialist Grace lost his life near the |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | Pakistan border in southeast Afghanistan, in support of Operation |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | Enduring Freedom; and |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Keith Grace was born on February 18, 1987, in |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | Houston; he overcame a series of challenges in his early years, |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | surviving bone cancer and losing his adoptive mother by the age of |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | 12; later in life, he was warmly welcomed into the family of Michael |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | and Mary Lou Davis; and |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Grace graduated from Robert E. Lee High School |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | in 2006, and in January 2012, he enlisted in the U.S. Army; as part |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | of his training, he completed a class in the Dari language and was |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | certified as a combat lifesaver; his commendations include the |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service and Global War |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | on Terror Ribbons, and he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | and the Bronze Star; and |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Admired for his optimism, fortitude, and good humor, |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | as well his bravery and dedication, Keith Grace upheld the highest |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | ideals of the U.S. armed forces, and his fellow citizens owe him a |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | lasting debt of gratitude; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Specialist Keith Erin |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | Grace Jr. and extend sincere condolences to the members of his |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | family: to his parents, Mike and Mary Lou Davis; to his birth |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | parents, Cheryl Barnes and Keith Erin Grace Sr.; to his brothers, |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Garland Davis, Allen Vasquez, Jeff Lee, James Leslie Hardy Jr., and |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | Cody Ray Barnes; to his sisters, Tara Krystal Grace, Stormy |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | Cheyenne Barnes, and Ashley Nichole Hardy; to his nephews, Dawson, |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | Chris, and Landon Brady; and to his other relatives and friends; |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | and, be it further |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Keith Erin |
|---|
| 43 | 44 | | Grace Jr. |
|---|