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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Don Pettigrew of Gainesville has rendered exemplary |
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service to the Medal of Honor Host City program; and |
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WHEREAS, A member of the Bowie High School Class of 1968, |
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Mr. Pettigrew answered his nation's call to duty during the Vietnam |
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War, enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps and serving as a rifleman |
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for two years; decorated with the Purple Heart, the Navy |
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Commendation Medal with "V" device, and the Combat Action Ribbon, |
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he received several service and campaign medals and unit citations |
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as well; and |
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WHEREAS, After returning to civilian life, Mr. Pettigrew |
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earned a bachelor's degree from North Texas State University, and |
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in 1985 he became an adult probation officer with the Cooke County |
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Community Supervision and Corrections Department; during his |
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21-year tenure with that agency, he also served as the community |
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service coordinator, overseeing the CSCD work crew and assisting |
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with a number of significant projects to enhance and benefit the |
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community; in addition, he played a vital role in planning and |
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setting up the CSCD Food Bank; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Pettigrew has further contributed to his |
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community through his extensive involvement in the Medal of Honor |
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Host City program; he was the driving force behind the creation of |
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the program, which was organized in 2001 and which is the only |
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undertaking of its kind in the country; each year, recipients of the |
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Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award for valor, are |
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invited to Gainesville for a celebration that pays tribute to their |
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heroism and that enables area residents to meet and visit with the |
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honorees; activities are planned with a special view to giving |
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children an opportunity to hear from, and talk with, these |
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inspiring figures; Mr. Pettigrew served as the program's inaugural |
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president for seven years, and today he works as a liaison to the |
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featured guests; he also guided the construction of the Medal of |
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Honor Park, which was dedicated in April 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Deeply committed to his community and his country, |
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Don Pettigrew has been instrumental in establishing this annual |
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occasion saluting the most gallant members and veterans of this |
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country's armed forces, and he has helped to instill the ideals of |
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patriotism, selflessness, and service in Gainesville's rising |
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generation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commend Don Pettigrew on |
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his outstanding work in behalf of the Medal of Honor Host City |
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program and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Pettigrew as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |