Bill Text: VA HJR605 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, United States Navy.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2013-01-17 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ605ER) [HJR605 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2013-HJR605-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, United States Naval Aircrewman 1st Class, Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, died on July 19, 2012, in the line of duty when the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter he was aboard crashed outside of Muscat, Oman; and WHEREAS, a native of Louisiana, Joseph Fitzmorris, known to his close friends as "J.P.," embraced life to the fullest and rose to excellence early, graduating in 1999 with honors from Ruston High School in Louisiana, where he also lettered in baseball, football, and track; and WHEREAS, after graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and health promotion, and while working on a master's degree in kinesiology at the University of Louisiana in 2004, J.P. Fitzmorris made the decision to enlist in the United States Navy; and WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, based at Norfolk Naval Station; he was a veteran of several deployments to the Persian Gulf and also participated in several humanitarian earthquake relief efforts in Haiti; and WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and Trinity United Methodist Church; and WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris loved being outdoors and spent countless hours hunting and fishing; he also cooked what he hunted and caught; and WHEREAS, a diehard fan of Louisiana State University football, J.P. Fitzmorris loved country music, flying, his truck, and his dogs—Nala and Drake; and WHEREAS, in February 2012, J.P. Fitzmorris married his best friend, Jacquie Gulla, who has also made many sacrifices for the nation as a United States Navy Ensign stationed in Norfolk and now, as a surviving Navy spouse; and WHEREAS, a devoted family man and friend, J.P. Fitzmorris will be remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Jacquie; mother, Florence; sister, Jolie; cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles numbering enough to fill Tiger Stadium; his fellow aircrewmen; and many friends; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a beloved son and husband and courageous patriot, Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory and supreme sacrifice while in service to his country. |