SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 323 Offered January 10, 2007 Prefiled December 13, 2006 Celebrating the life of Airman First Class Leebernard Emmanuel Chavis. ---------- Patron-- Locke ----------

WHEREAS, United States Air Force Airman First Class Leebernard Emmanuel Chavis of Hampton, aged 21, died in the line of duty in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 14, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Lee Chavis was born in Washington, D.C., moved with his family to Hampton when he was six years old, and graduated in 2003 from Phoebus High School; and

WHEREAS, Airman First Class Chavis was a brave member of the 824th Security Forces Squadron, based at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia, and was the unit's first combat casualty in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Airman First Class Chavis served in Kirkuk, Iraq, before being redeployed for a second tour of duty in Baghdad, where he was assigned to the 372nd Military Police Battalion, training the Iraqi police; and

WHEREAS, during the private tarmac ceremony known as a patriot detail attended by the 18 members of his flight subunit and other squadron personnel, commanders honored Airman First Class Chavis with the proud emblem of the 824th Security Forces, a blue and yellow flag known as a guidon; and

WHEREAS, Airman First Class Chavis dreamed of continuing his service to his country in the FBI, the CIA, or the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives after completing his military duty; and

WHEREAS, a devoted Christian who expressed himself through music, Airman First Class Chavis loved to sing gospel tunes and write expressive songs, often relating his military experiences, in the style of rhythm and blues; and

WHEREAS, Airman First Class Chavis will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his loving parents Jacquelin and Michael L. Chavis, his brother Michael, and numerous other family members and devoted friends; and

WHEREAS, the tremendous loss of Airman First Class Chavis is a reminder of the hazards our brave young men and women of the armed forces face every day in loyal service to their country; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby mourn the death of a courageous and patriotic Virginian, Airman First Class Leebernard Emmanuel Chavis; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Airman First Class Leebernard Emmanuel Chavis as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of the Commonwealth.