TITLE: In memory of Tanner Stone Higgins.

SUMMARY: In memory of Tanner Stone Higgins.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and commemorates the life of United States Army Sergeant Tanner Stone Higgins, who died in the line of duty April 14, 2012, at the age of 23 while serving his country in Afghanistan; and WHEREAS, Tanner Higgins was born January 31, 1989; he enlisted in the United States Army in 2007, shortly after his graduation from high school, and he completed his basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Georgia; he went on to graduate from the elite Ranger Assessment and Selection Program and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia; and WHEREAS, Over the course of his distinguished military career, Sergeant Higgins served as a rifleman, grenadier, automatic rifleman, gun team leader, and Ranger team leader; he performed a tour of duty in Iraq and was serving in his third deployment to Afghanistan when he gave his last full measure of devotion to his country; and WHEREAS, His many awards and citations include the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with one campaign star, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three campaign stars; he was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star, a Meritorious Service Medal, and a Purple Heart; and WHEREAS, Sergeant Higgins was a true American hero and a first-rate soldier, and he has joined the long line of brave men andwomenwhosecourageandsacrificehaveleftanindeliblemark on the world; his exceptional service in defense of our nation's security and democratic ideals will continue to be an inspiration to all who were privileged to share in his life; and WHEREAS, In honor of his service and sacrifice, the portion of Texas State Highway 154 that is between the communities of Yantis and Sulphur Springs has been named the Sergeant Tanner Stone Higgins Memorial Highway; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved family of Tanner Stone Higgins; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Tanner Stone Higgins. Hall Bettencourt Hancock Rodr guez Birdwell Hinojosa Schwertner Burton Huffines Seliger Campbell Huffman Taylor of Galveston Creighton Kolkhorst Taylor of Collin Ellis Lucio Uresti Eltife Men ndez Watson Estes Nelson West Fraser Nichols Whitmire Garcia Perry Zaffirini Patrick, President of the Senate President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 25, 2015, by a rising vote.