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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Petty Officer Jordan Wagstaff of the U.S. Coast |
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| 6 | 7 | | Guard is an outstanding young Texan who is paying tribute to fallen |
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| 7 | 8 | | heroes while contributing to a worthy cause by participating in the |
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| 8 | 9 | | first annual Tunnel to Towers Tower Climb in New York City on May |
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| 9 | 10 | | 17, 2015; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Sponsored by the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers |
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| 11 | 12 | | Foundation and the Captain Billy Burke Foundation, this unique |
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| 12 | 13 | | athletic event honors the memory of two New York City firefighters |
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| 13 | 14 | | who lost their lives in the collapse of the Twin Towers on September |
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| 14 | 15 | | 11, 2001; on that fateful day, Stephen Siller of Squad 1 in Park |
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| 15 | 16 | | Slope, Brooklyn, was off-duty when he responded without hesitation |
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| 16 | 17 | | to help those in need at the World Trade Center, running with over |
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| 17 | 18 | | 60 pounds of gear through a blocked-off tunnel to the site of the |
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| 18 | 19 | | disaster; Captain William Burke led and encouraged his fellow |
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| 19 | 20 | | firefighters on their climb, calling out his support to them even as |
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| 20 | 21 | | he remained behind to rescue two workers when the second building |
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| 21 | 22 | | collapsed; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, During the Tunnel to Tower competition, 1,000 |
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| 23 | 24 | | participants will reenact that heroic effort as they climb 90 |
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| 24 | 25 | | floors, or 180 flights of stairs, in One World Trade Center, the new |
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| 25 | 26 | | skyscraper built on the site of the original World Trade Center; the |
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| 26 | 27 | | climb's participants will also raise money for such worthy causes |
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| 27 | 28 | | as building 200 new homes for disabled veterans, supporting service |
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| 28 | 29 | | members with catastrophic injuries, and funding the education of |
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| 29 | 30 | | children who have lost a parent; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, The son of James and Charlotte Wagstaff, Jordan |
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| 31 | 32 | | Wagstaff was born in Nacogdoches on February 11, 1987, and attended |
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| 32 | 33 | | Lufkin High School; answering his nation's call to duty, he |
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| 33 | 34 | | arranged to graduate early so that he could join the U.S. Coast |
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| 34 | 35 | | Guard in 2005; he is stationed in New York City as a duty section |
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| 35 | 36 | | leader for the Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security unit, a |
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| 36 | 37 | | counterterrorism effort devoted to protecting critical maritime |
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| 37 | 38 | | infrastructure as well as the Statue of Liberty, the George |
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| 38 | 39 | | Washington Bridge, and other important sites; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Petty Officer Wagstaff has long dedicated himself to |
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| 40 | 41 | | the defense of our nation, and his involvement in this |
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| 41 | 42 | | inspirational athletic competition provides a meaningful way to |
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| 42 | 43 | | further honor the memory of two brave Americans who gave their lives |
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| 43 | 44 | | in the service of others; now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature hereby commend U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Jordan |
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| 46 | 47 | | Wagstaff on his participation in the first annual Tunnel to Towers |
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| 47 | 48 | | Tower Climb and recognize him for his exemplary service; and, be it |
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| 48 | 49 | | further |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 50 | 51 | | prepared for Petty Officer Wagstaff as an expression of high regard |
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| 51 | 52 | | by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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