Bill Text: FL S2032 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: United States Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 28-12)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-24 - Adopted -SJ 260 [S2032 Detail]
Download: Florida-2012-S2032-Introduced.html
Florida Senate - 2012 (NP) SR 2032 By Senator Fasano 11-01899-12 20122032__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing the valor and distinguished 3 service of United States Army Sergeant First Class 4 Paul Ray Smith. 5 6 WHEREAS, Paul Ray Smith was born on September 24, 1969, in 7 El Paso, Texas, and moved with his family to Tampa when he was 8 nine years old, and 9 WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray 10 Smith served his country with great valor and distinction as a 11 member of Company B, 11th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Infantry 12 Division, and 13 WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was well-known 14 among his fellow soldiers as a strong, exceptional leader who 15 “led from the front,” and 16 WHEREAS, during battle on April 4, 2003, Sergeant First 17 Class Paul Ray Smith and his fellow soldiers, although 18 significantly outnumbered, fought with great determination to 19 protect the lives and positions of other solders in the area, 20 and 21 WHEREAS, during that battle, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray 22 Smith repeatedly exposed himself to overwhelming enemy fire 23 until he was fatally wounded, and 24 WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith was 25 posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 26 recognition of his heroic actions on that day, and 27 WHEREAS, the Senate wishes to express its untold gratitude 28 to Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith’s widow, Birgit, and his 29 children, David and Jessica, who currently reside in Holiday, 30 NOW, THEREFORE, 31 32 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 33 34 That the members of the Senate recognize Army Sergeant 35 First Class Paul Ray Smith, whose sacrificial conduct epitomizes 36 the extraordinary character and selfless nature of our nation’s 37 fighting forces, and honor the ultimate sacrifice made on behalf 38 of a grateful nation. 39 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with 40 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the family of 41 United States Army Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith as a 42 tangible token of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.