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2002 SESSION

028722946
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 507
Offered March 7, 2002
On the death of Petty Officer First Class Neil Christopher Roberts.
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Patrons-- Suit, Abbitt, Albo, Almand, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, Barlow, Baskerville, Bell, Black, Bland, Bloxom, Bolvin, Brink, Broman, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Christian, Cole, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Crittenden, Darner, Devolites, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, Hull, Hurt, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Melvin, Miles, Moran, Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, O'Brien, Oder, Orrock, Parrish, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Reid, Rollison, Rust, Saxman, Scott, Sears, Sherwood, Shuler, Spruill, Stump, Tata, Thomas, Van Landingham, Van Yahres, Wardrup, Ware, Watts, Weatherholtz, Welch, Wilkins, Woodrum and Wright
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Unanimous consent to introduce
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WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Neil Christopher Roberts of Virginia Beach was killed in action on March 4, 2002, while taking part in Operation Anaconda, an attack on al-Qaida and Taliban forces in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Neil Roberts, a United States Navy SEAL, part of Special Warfare Group Two based in Norfolk, lived in Virginia Beach with his wife, Patty, and his 18-month-old son, Nathan; and

WHEREAS, a native of Woodland, California, Neil Roberts joined the Navy after graduation from high school, where he excelled in football and wrestling; and

WHEREAS, a 14-year veteran of service in the Navy, Neil Roberts became a SEAL in 1992 and took Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training at Coronado, California, and Basic Airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, as a SEAL, the Navy's elite fighting force, Neil Roberts was a member of a team that participated in the most hazardous missions, including deployments in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield; and

WHEREAS, Neil Roberts earned multiple decorations during his Navy career, including the Joint Service Achievement Medal, two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals, an Army Achievement Medal, a Joint Meritorious Unit Award, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation; and

WHEREAS, Neil Roberts also earned the Battle "E" Award, four Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Southwest Asia Service Medal (with two bronze service stars), an Armed Forces Service Medal, five Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, and two NATO Medals; and

WHEREAS, the Navy SEALs are among the world's toughest fighters, and the members of this elite unit, trained and deployed for the most dangerous of situations, form unusually tight bonds; and

WHEREAS, Neil Roberts belonged to this select group, whose members honor their warriors with the words: "The path to glory is rough, and many gloomy hours obscure it. . . . May the great spirit shed light on your path--Black Hawk"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly mourn the untimely death and honor the memory of a brave American, Petty Officer First Class Neil Christopher Roberts; 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 Petty Officer First Class Neil Christopher Roberts as an expression of the esteem in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly.