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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Second |
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Lieutenant Peter H. Burks of Dallas sustained a heavy loss with the |
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death of this courageous soldier in Iraq on November 14, 2007, at |
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the age of 26; and |
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WHEREAS, Lieutenant Burks was killed by an improvised |
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explosive device in Baghdad while serving as a member of the 4th |
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Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, which is based in Vilseck, |
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Germany; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on April 10, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, Pete |
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Burks was the son of Jackie Merck and Alan Burks; he developed his |
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strong spiritual faith early in his life and graduated from Trinity |
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Christian Academy in 1999; and |
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WHEREAS, After beginning his college studies at the |
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University of Georgia, he transferred to Texas A&M University, |
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where he became a member of Pi Kappa Phi and served as a |
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sportswriter for the Battalion; he graduated with a bachelor's |
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degree in international studies and then held jobs as a tour guide |
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in Nice, France, and as an employee of the Dallas Cowboys, the |
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Dallas Desperados, and FC Dallas; in addition, he was very active in |
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the Young Life youth ministry organization; and |
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WHEREAS, This dedicated young man answered his nation's call |
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to duty in April 2006 and enlisted in the U.S. Army; he |
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distinguished himself in his training courses and developed into an |
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officer of great integrity and courage; given the role of a troop |
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leader in the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, he soon won the lasting |
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respect and admiration of his fellow soldiers; and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by a love of country and a desire to serve a |
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higher calling, Pete Burks embodied the highest ideals of the armed |
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services, and those who shared in his love and friendship will |
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forever treasure their memories of him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Second |
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Lieutenant Peter H. Burks and extend deepest condolences to the |
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members of his family: to his mother, Jackie Merck; to his father, |
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Alan Burks; to his sisters, Ali, Sarah, and Georgia Burks; to his |
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brother, Zac Burks; to his fiancee, Melissa Haddad; to his |
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grandmother, Irene Merck; to his grandfather, Haskell Burks; to his |
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nephews, Oliver and Liam Denson; to his aunts and uncles, Brenda and |
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Jim Brooks, Laurie and Ivan Killen, Carlton and Bonnie Hays, Mike |
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and Susan Burks, and Tim Merck; and to his other relatives and many |
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friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Second |
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Lieutenant Peter Burks. |
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Madden |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2303 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 21, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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