06
SR1034/AP
Senate
Resolution 1034
By:
Senator Goggans of the 7th
ADOPTED
A
RESOLUTION
To
dedicate certain portions of the state highway system; and for other
purposes.
PART
I
WHEREAS,
SGT Mathew Vincent Gibbs was a member of 648th Engineer Battalion of the 48th
Infantry Brigade of the Georgia National Guard; and
WHEREAS,
while serving in Baghdad, Iraq, he was killed on August 3, 2005;
and
WHEREAS,
he was promoted to the rank of sergeant posthumously; and
WHEREAS,
he is survived by his wife, Reagan C. Gibbs, and two daughters, Ariana and
Arissa; and
WHEREAS,
this courageous soldier, who in the spirit of the American patriot, volunteered
to confront the dangers, privations, and discomforts of wartime service and in
the spirit of humanity strived to keep the peace in Iraq with fortitude and
steadfast resolve, making us as a nation truly proud; and
WHEREAS,
all Americans owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women of our armed forces
who risk their lives in the defense of freedom and to secure the blessings of
liberty for this nation and other peoples of the world.
PART
II
WHEREAS,
Major Thomas A. Duckett, a citizen of Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia,
graduated with honors from the schools of Catoosa County and was active in the
Boynton Baptist Church; and
WHEREAS,
he attended LaGrange College where he excelled in sports and graduated with
honors with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry; and
WHEREAS,
he entered the United States Air Force and attended the Officer Candidate School
and flight school as a lieutenant; and
WHEREAS,
Lieutenant Duckett was recognized for his dependability, outstanding airmanship,
and professionalism, which led to his promotion to captain as a pilot and
forward air controller while serving in Thailand during the Vietnam War;
and
WHEREAS,
Captain Duckett was shot down over Laos while honorably serving his country in
the defense of freedom on December 12, 1970, and later was promoted to the rank
of major; and
WHEREAS,
it is most appropriate that Major Duckett be honored in perpetuity for his
honorable service and sacrifice.
PART
III
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the members of
this body offer their sincere condolences to the family and friends of SGT
Mathew Vincent Gibbs and dedicate the 17 Mile River Bridge at mile marker 7 on
SR 206, in Coffee County, as the SGT Mathew Vincent Gibbs Memorial
Bridge.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body join in honoring the memory of
a great Georgian, Major Thomas A. Duckett, for his honorable service and
sacrifice for the people of Georgia and the United States of America and that
the Interstate 75 Exit 348 Interchange is dedicated as the Major Thomas A.
Duckett Interchange.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and
directed to place and maintain appropriate markers dedicating the road
facilities named in this resolution.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Department of
Transportation, to the family of SGT Mathew Vincent Gibbs, and to the family of
Major Thomas A. Duckett.