HJ605: Celebrating the life of Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, United States Navy.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 605
Celebrating the life of Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, United States Navy.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 11, 2013
Agreed to by the Senate, January 17, 2013

 

WHEREAS, United States Naval Aircrewman 1st Class, Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, died on July 19, 2012, in the line of duty when the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter he was aboard crashed outside of Muscat, Oman; and

WHEREAS, a native of Louisiana, Joseph Fitzmorris, known to his close friends as “J.P.,” embraced life to the fullest and rose to excellence early, graduating in 1999 with honors from Ruston High School in Louisiana, where he also lettered in baseball, football, and track; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and health promotion, and while working on a master’s degree in kinesiology at the University of Louisiana in 2004, J.P. Fitzmorris made the decision to enlist in the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, based at Norfolk Naval Station; he was a veteran of several deployments to the Persian Gulf and also participated in several humanitarian earthquake relief efforts in Haiti; and

WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and Trinity United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris loved being outdoors and spent countless hours hunting and fishing; he also cooked what he hunted and caught; and

WHEREAS, a diehard fan of Louisiana State University football, J.P. Fitzmorris loved country music, flying, his truck, and his dogs—Nala and Drake; and

WHEREAS, in February 2012, J.P. Fitzmorris married his best friend, Jacquie Gulla, who has also made many sacrifices for the nation as a United States Navy Ensign stationed in Norfolk and now, as a surviving Navy spouse; and

WHEREAS, a devoted family man and friend, J.P. Fitzmorris will be remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Jacquie; mother, Florence; sister, Jolie; cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles numbering enough to fill Tiger Stadium; his fellow aircrewmen; and many friends; 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 beloved son and husband and courageous patriot, Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris; 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 Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris as an expression of the General Assembly’s respect for his memory and supreme sacrifice while in service to his country.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 605

Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 5, 2013
Celebrating the life of Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, United States Navy.
Patron-- Stolle

WHEREAS, United States Naval Aircrewman 1st Class, Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris, died on July 19, 2012, in the line of duty when the MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter he was aboard crashed outside of Muscat, Oman; and

WHEREAS, a native of Louisiana, Joseph Fitzmorris, known to his close friends as J.P., embraced life to the fullest and rose to excellence early, graduating in 1999 with honors from Ruston High School in Louisiana, where he also lettered in baseball, football, and track; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Louisiana Tech University in 2003 with a bachelors degree in kinesiology and health promotion, and while working on a masters degree in kinesiology at the University of Louisiana in 2004, J.P. Fitzmorris made the decision to enlist in the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15, based at Norfolk Naval Station; he was a veteran of several deployments to the Persian Gulf and also participated in several humanitarian earthquake relief efforts in Haiti; and

WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris was a member of Ducks Unlimited, Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, and Trinity United Methodist Church; and

WHEREAS, J.P. Fitzmorris loved being outdoors and spent countless hours hunting and fishing; he also cooked what he hunted and caught; and

WHEREAS, a diehard fan of Louisiana State University football, J.P. Fitzmorris loved country music, flying, his truck, and his dogsNala and Drake; and

WHEREAS, in February 2012, J.P. Fitzmorris married his best friend, Jacquie Gulla, who has also made many sacrifices for the nation as a United States Navy Ensign stationed in Norfolk and now, as a surviving Navy spouse; and

WHEREAS, a devoted family man and friend, J.P. Fitzmorris will be remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Jacquie; mother, Florence; sister, Jolie; cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles numbering enough to fill Tiger Stadium; his fellow aircrewmen; and many friends; 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 beloved son and husband and courageous patriot, Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris; 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 Aircrewman 1st Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris as an expression of the General Assemblys respect for his memory and supreme sacrifice while in service to his country.