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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, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow caused by |
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| 6 | 7 | | the loss of United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Joshua |
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| 7 | 8 | | Michael Snowden of Dallas, who died while serving his country on |
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| 8 | 9 | | July 10, 2017, at the age of 31; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The son of Gay Hayslett and Michael Snowden, Josh |
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| 10 | 11 | | Snowden, who was also known as "Snow" by his many friends, was born |
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| 11 | 12 | | in Abilene on July 22, 1985; he grew up in the Dallas area and played |
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| 12 | 13 | | lacrosse as a student at Highland Park High School; following |
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| 13 | 14 | | graduation in 2004, he decided to defer college for a while and |
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| 14 | 15 | | enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve; he subsequently |
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| 15 | 16 | | continued his education at Texas State University, where he played |
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| 16 | 17 | | on the men's lacrosse team; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, After completing his bachelor's degree in 2010, |
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| 18 | 19 | | Staff Sergeant Snowden embarked on a career in the military; he was |
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| 19 | 20 | | called to active duty in July 2012 and became a flight instructor |
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| 20 | 21 | | and engineer for KC-130T model planes; deployed twice to Iraq, he |
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| 21 | 22 | | earned 16 medals and awards, including the Global War on Terrorism |
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| 22 | 23 | | Expeditionary Medal; while based with his squadron at Stewart Air |
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| 23 | 24 | | National Guard Base in Orange County, in New York, he demonstrated |
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| 24 | 25 | | pride in his Texas roots by maintaining a wardrobe full of Dallas |
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| 25 | 26 | | Cowboys jerseys, cowboy boots, cowboy hats, and Texas flag |
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| 26 | 27 | | button-down shirts; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, In his spare time, Josh Snowden enjoyed grilling |
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| 28 | 29 | | steaks, working on his truck, and listening to Texas country music, |
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| 29 | 30 | | preferably all at the same time; over the years, he brightened the |
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| 30 | 31 | | days of everyone he encountered with his irresistible smile, joyous |
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| 31 | 32 | | sense of humor, and wonderful gift for storytelling; this |
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| 32 | 33 | | great-hearted young man was sustained by a strong religious faith, |
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| 33 | 34 | | and he was a valued member of the Church of the Incarnation; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Josh Snowden was deeply devoted to his friends and |
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| 35 | 36 | | his family, whose members included, in addition to his mother and |
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| 36 | 37 | | his father, his "second father," Rick Hayslett, his sister, Sara, |
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| 37 | 38 | | his brothers, Drew, Tyler, Greg, and Bryan, and an older brother, |
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| 38 | 39 | | Eric, who predeceased him; and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Serving with honor, courage, and dedication, Josh |
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| 40 | 41 | | Snowden embodied the highest ideals of the United States armed |
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| 41 | 42 | | forces, and he will be forever cherished by those who were |
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| 42 | 43 | | privileged to share in his love and affection; now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to the memory |
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| 45 | 46 | | of Staff Sergeant Joshua Michael Snowden and extend sincere |
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| 46 | 47 | | condolences to his loved ones and to all those who mourn his |
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| 47 | 48 | | passing; and, be it further |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 49 | 50 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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| 50 | 51 | | Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of U.S. Marine |
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| 51 | 52 | | Corps Staff Sergeant Joshua Michael Snowden. |
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