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2010 SESSION

10105211D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 413
Offered March 5, 2010
Celebrating the life of Sergeant William John Cahir, USMC.
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Patrons-- Englin, Abbitt, Abbott, Albo, Alexander, Anderson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Brink, Bulova, Byron, Carr, Carrico, Cleaveland, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Cox, M.K., Crockett-Stark, Dance, Ebbin, Edmunds, Filler-Corn, Garrett, Gear, Gilbert, Greason, Griffith, Herring, Hope, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, James, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, Keam, Kilgore, Knight, Kory, Landes, LeMunyon, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, May, McClellan, McQuinn, Merricks, Miller, J.H., Miller, P.J., Morefield, Morgan, Morrissey, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Orrock, Peace, Phillips, Plum, Pogge, Poindexter, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Rust, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Stolle, Surovell, Tata, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Villanueva, Ward, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts and Wright; Senators: Barker, Blevins, Colgan, Deeds, Edwards, Hanger, Herring, Houck, Howell, Hurt, Locke, Lucas, Marsden, Marsh, Martin, McDougle, McEachin, McWaters, Miller, J.C., Miller, Y.B., Newman, Norment, Northam, Obenshain, Petersen, Puckett, Puller, Quayle, Reynolds, Ruff, Saslaw, Smith, Stosch, Stuart, Ticer, Vogel, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins and Whipple
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WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Sergeant William John Cahir of Alexandria was killed in the line of duty on August 13, 2009, while serving his country in Afghanistan’s Helmand Province; and

WHEREAS, a native of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, William Cahir received a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 1990; and

WHEREAS, a talented and industrious young man with a deep appreciation for, and devotion to, public service, William Cahir became a staffer for the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and worked for United States Senators Edward Kennedy and Harris Wofford; and

WHEREAS, after leaving Capitol Hill, William Cahir was an accomplished reporter for a variety of newspapers across the country; and

WHEREAS, after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, William Cahir was moved to serve and defend his country and, after receiving an age waiver, joined the United States Marine Corps as a reservist and served two tours of duty in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, after returning from his second tour of duty, William Cahir declared himself a candidate for Congress from his childhood home in Pennsylvania’s 5th District and ran a formidable campaign; and

WHEREAS, after his campaign ended, William Cahir returned to civilian life in Alexandria with his wife, Rene Browne, before his reactivation to Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Cahir was an integral part of the 4th Civil Affairs Group, a unit whose assignment of fostering communication and building trust with Afghani citizens and communities was perfectly suited to Sergeant Cahir’s unique personal mix of kindness, compassion, and strength; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Cahir will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Rene, and their two daughters, Caroline and Elizabeth; his parents, John and Mary Anne Cahir; his brother Bart; sisters Ellen and Kathryn; and numerous other family members, friends, and fellow Marines; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Cahir’s death is a reminder of the perils faced daily by the thousands of Americans who serve in our armed forces overseas and whose devotion to duty places them in harm’s way; 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 courageous and patriotic Virginian, Sergeant William John Cahir, USMC; 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 Sergeant William John Cahir, USMC, as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of Virginia.