| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 818 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize Michael E. Thornton for his distinguished service to his |
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| 4 | 4 | | country and for his steadfast support of military veterans; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Michael Thornton enlisted in the United States |
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| 6 | 6 | | Navy in 1967; after basic training, he was selected for |
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| 7 | 7 | | specialized training in basic underwater demolition as part of |
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| 8 | 8 | | the navy's elite SEAL forces; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Between 1968 and 1973, Petty Officer Thornton |
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| 10 | 10 | | served several tours of duty in the Republic of Vietnam and |
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| 11 | 11 | | Thailand; he was the recipient of numerous awards during his |
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| 12 | 12 | | wartime service, and he was bestowed the Congressional Medal of |
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| 13 | 13 | | Honor for his heroic rescue of fellow Navy SEAL and superior |
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| 14 | 14 | | officer Lieutenant Tom Norris during his final tour in Vietnam; and |
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| 15 | 15 | | WHEREAS, In 1982, Lieutenant Thornton received his |
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| 16 | 16 | | commission as a United States Navy ensign, and he went on to serve |
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| 17 | 17 | | at the Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk, Virginia; in April |
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| 18 | 18 | | of 1990, he reported as Bravo Company commander to coordinate a |
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| 19 | 19 | | rapid response deployment in support of Operation Desert Shield and |
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| 20 | 20 | | Desert Storm; he retired from military service in 1992, after 25 |
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| 21 | 21 | | years of outstanding service to his country; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, On June 8, 2017, at a special event in Dallas, |
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| 23 | 23 | | Mr. Thornton is introducing the book that details the mission and |
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| 24 | 24 | | the courageous rescue of Lieutenant Norris; proceeds from the event |
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| 25 | 25 | | will benefit the Michael E. Thornton Foundation, a nonprofit |
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| 26 | 26 | | organization that provides immediate financial relief to active |
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| 27 | 27 | | and nonactive military members and their families and supports |
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| 28 | 28 | | veterans as they work to transition to civilian life; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Michael Thornton is a revered citizen who continues |
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| 30 | 30 | | to work diligently on behalf of his fellow veterans, and he is |
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| 31 | 31 | | indeed deserving of recognition for his patriotism and the |
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| 32 | 32 | | extraordinary courage he demonstrated throughout his military |
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| 33 | 33 | | career; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 35 | 35 | | Legislature, hereby commend Michael E. Thornton on his selfless |
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| 36 | 36 | | service to the nation and extend to him best wishes in all his |
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| 37 | 37 | | future endeavors; and, be it further |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 39 | 39 | | him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 40 | 40 | | Campbell |
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| 41 | 41 | | ________________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | President of the Senate |
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| 43 | 43 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 44 | 44 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 45 | 45 | | the Senate on May 19, 2017. |
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| 46 | 46 | | ________________________________ |
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| 47 | 47 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 48 | 48 | | ________________________________ |
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| 49 | 49 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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