Bill Text: TX HR114 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending U.S. Army veterans Stephen Lucas, Larry Leonard, and William "Bill" Stevens for their distinguished service as guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-11-02 - Reported enrolled [HR114 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR114-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 114 | ||
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| WHEREAS, U.S. Army veterans Stephen Lucas, Larry Leonard, and | ||
| William Stevens rendered exceptional service to their country as | ||
| guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National | ||
| Cemetery in Virginia; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A hallowed site of national mourning and | ||
| remembrance, the tomb's marble monument has stood for more than a | ||
| century in tribute to all missing and unknown American soldiers, | ||
| and it is the final resting place for three service members from | ||
| World War I, World War II, and the Korean War; U.S. Army soldiers | ||
| were first assigned to guard the tomb in 1926, and since 1937, the | ||
| site has been protected around the clock every day of the year; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Stephen Lucas of Fort Worth, Larry Leonard of Haltom | ||
| City, and William "Bill" Stevens of Cedar Hill were sentinels at the | ||
| monument and are members of the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of | ||
| the Unknown Soldier; Mr. Lucas served at the site from September | ||
| 1975 through February 1977; he was awarded the Tomb of the Unknown | ||
| Soldier Identification Badge, and on July 5, 1976, he was addressed | ||
| by the Queen of England, who was present for a wreath-laying | ||
| ceremony; he served for 22 years in the army, receiving the | ||
| Meritorious Service Medal, the Drill Sergeant Identification | ||
| Badge, and the National Defense Service Medal, and he retired as a | ||
| sergeant first class; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Leonard served as a tomb guard from June 1975 | ||
| through June 1979 and was awarded the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier | ||
| Identification Badge; he was a specialist with the 3rd U.S. | ||
| Infantry Regiment from 1975 to 1980, and his military honors | ||
| include the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service | ||
| Medal, and the Meritorious Unit Award; and | ||
| WHEREAS, From December 1967 through October 1968, | ||
| Mr. Stevens was a tomb guard relief commander; he earned the Tomb | ||
| Guard Badge and was assigned as a special guard to the gravesite of | ||
| President John F. Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery and as a | ||
| special escort for Jacqueline Kennedy at Robert Kennedy's funeral | ||
| procession to the cemetery in 1968; an army specialist from 1966 to | ||
| 1968, he received the Old Guard Certificate of Achievement, the | ||
| National Defense Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Demonstrating the highest levels of discipline, | ||
| stamina, and patriotism during their vigils at the Tomb of the | ||
| Unknown Soldier, Stephen Lucas, Larry Leonard, and Bill Stevens | ||
| honored the service and sacrifice of fallen U.S. soldiers, and they | ||
| are indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend Stephen Lucas, | ||
| Larry Leonard, and William Stevens for their contributions as | ||
| guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and extend to them sincere | ||
| appreciation for their distinguished service; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Mr. Lucas, Mr. Leonard, and Mr. Stevens as an | ||
| expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Klick | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 114 was adopted by the House on | ||
| November 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
