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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Private First Class Wesley Robert Riggs of Baytown |
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| 6 | 7 | | died on May 17, 2005, at the age of 19, while bravely serving in |
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| 7 | 8 | | Iraq, but the spirit of this valiant young Texan continues to live |
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| 8 | 9 | | on in the hearts of those who were privileged to know him; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Born in Baytown on August 16, 1985, Wesley Riggs was |
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| 10 | 11 | | the son of Gayle McDermott and Daniel Riggs; growing up on the Gulf |
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| 11 | 12 | | Coast, he enjoyed his time on the water fishing and rafting with his |
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| 12 | 13 | | friends, and he was noted for his love of camping, tinkering with |
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| 13 | 14 | | cars, mudding, and all things Southern; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Riggs went on to graduate from Barbers Hill High |
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| 15 | 16 | | School in 2003 and enlisted in the United States Army in February of |
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| 16 | 17 | | the following year; he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th |
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| 17 | 18 | | Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, out of Fort Stewart, |
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| 18 | 19 | | Georgia, and was ultimately deployed in support of Operation Iraqi |
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| 19 | 20 | | Freedom; highly regarded for his strong work ethic and |
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| 20 | 21 | | dependability, he uplifted his comrades with his can-do attitude |
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| 21 | 22 | | when they faced particularly daunting challenges, and he had a |
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| 22 | 23 | | knack for orchestrating practical jokes; and |
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| 23 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Private Riggs was mortally wounded in Tikrit, Iraq, |
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| 24 | 25 | | after an improvised explosive device detonated near his position; |
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| 25 | 26 | | his loss left an immeasurable void in the lives of countless |
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| 26 | 27 | | friends, family, and fellow soldiers, and in tribute to his memory, |
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| 27 | 28 | | a scholarship fund has been established in his name; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Private Wesley Riggs was a remarkable young man who |
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| 29 | 30 | | answered the call to duty with courage and distinction, and for the |
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| 30 | 31 | | sacrifice he made in behalf of his country, the people of our state |
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| 31 | 32 | | and nation owe him a debt of remembrance that the passage of time |
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| 32 | 33 | | can never diminish; now, therefore, be it |
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| 33 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 34 | 35 | | Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and service of Private |
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| 35 | 36 | | First Class Wesley Robert Riggs. |
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