84R29133 CJM-D
By: Smith H.R. No. 2956
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, A life filled with meaningful service drew to a
close with the passing of Senior Chief Petty Officer (Ret.) Terry
Bruce Burkett of Dublin, Texas, on May 9, 2015, at the age of 69; and
WHEREAS, The youngest child of Edith Gabel and Lowell
Burkett, Terry Burkett was born in Le Mars, Iowa, on April 26, 1946;
he graduated from Cooper High School in Abilene in 1964 and enlisted
to serve his country as a member of the U.S. Navy; in the course of a
distinguished military career that spanned more than 22 years, he
completed three tours of duty in Vietnam as a naval aircrewman and
logged more than 6,000 flight hours as an aircrew chief; he received
numerous accolades for his service, including the Air Medal, two
Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, two Navy
Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Battle Effectiveness Award,
and five Good Conduct Medals; and
WHEREAS, After retiring, Mr. Burkett worked tirelessly in
behalf of his fellow veterans, serving as commander and
quartermaster of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3377 in Manchaca and
as an active member of the Texas Association of Vietnam Veterans and
the Vietnam Veterans of America; and
WHEREAS, In one of Mr. Burkett's most notable efforts to
honor former members of the armed forces, he spent eight years on
the Texas Capitol Vietnam Veterans Monument Executive Committee;
his dedicated support for the project also included service as
chair of the Veterans Outreach Committee, monitoring production and
casting of the bronze sculpture, maintaining a list of over 600
donors who contributed to the initiative, and helping construct an
educational companion website; moreover, he was a member of the
Groundbreaking and Dedication Ceremony Subcommittees and
participated in a historic reading of the names of all 3,417 Texans
who were killed or went missing in Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, Mr. Burkett enjoyed the
love and support of his wife, Karen, and he was the proud father of
four children, Christopher, Kelly, Jeffrey, and Lowell, and four
stepchildren, Franklin, Charles, Douglas, and Samantha; over the
years, his family grew to include 20 grandchildren and 3
great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, A respected military veteran who devoted himself to
ensuring that service members were properly honored for their
sacrifice, Terry Burkett touched many lives during his journey on
this earth, and those who had the good fortune to know him will
forever hold him close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Senior Chief Petty
Officer (Ret.) Terry Bruce Burkett and extend sincere sympathy to
the members of his family: to his wife, Karen Ayn Burkett; to his
children, Christopher Leigh Burkett, Kelly Ann Fanelli, Jeffrey
Allen Burkett, and Lowell David Burkett; to his stepchildren,
Franklin James Barnard, Charles Michael Barnard, Douglas Gene
Moore, and Samantha Kay Graham; to his 20 grandchildren and 3
great-grandchildren; to his sisters, Marge Barnhill and Linda
Smith; and to his other relatives and many 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 Terry Bruce
Burkett.