TITLE: Paying tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Gary Lamar Collins of Hardin and commemorating the 2015 Concert for Hope.

SUMMARY: Paying tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Gary Lamar Collins of Hardin and commemorating the 2015 Concert for Hope.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant First Class Gary Lamar Collins of Chambers County was killed in action while courageously serving his country in Iraq, and his heroism and sacrifice are being honored at the Concert for Hope in Winnie on June 13, 2015; and WHEREAS, Hosted by the Differe nt Rhythm Foundation, which combats terrorism and the extinction of keystone species in Africa, this event is the only full-day military tribute in the state; proceeds will benefit the Crystal Beach Retreat Facility of the nonprofit Lone Survivor Foundation, an organization dedicated to caring for wounded servicemembers and their families and to helping veterans transition back into civilian life; and WHEREAS, Assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kansas, Sergeant Collins was a longtime member of the army and was certified as both an airborne specialist and a ranger; after serving in Bosnia, he was deployed to Iraq, where he was killed by an improvised explosive device in Fallujah on November 8, 2003, becoming the 13th fallen member of the U.S. armed forces from Fort Riley during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and WHEREAS, During his decorated military career, Sergeant Collins earned seven Army Achievement Medals, three Army Commendation Medals, and the prestigious Expert Infantryman Badge, and he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart and promoted to sergeant first class; and WHEREAS, Gary Collins was born on May 18, 1971, and graduated in 1990 from Magnolia High School, where he distinguished himself as captain of the football team and as a member of the baseball and track and field teams and was voted class favorite for four consecutive years; he married his high school sweetheart, the former Kassandra Kennedy, on February 2, 1992, and the couple became the loving parents of two children, Taylor and Landry; and WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to those who have answered this nation's call to duty, and the special recognition given to Sergeant Collins by the Different Rhythm Foundation will serve to further perpetuate the memory of this brave soldier for many years to come; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Gary Lamar Collins and commemorate the 2015 Concert for Hope. Faircloth Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2994 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 30, 2015. Chief Clerk of the House