Senate Concurrent Resolution 563

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF SPECIALIST ROBERT ALLEN MCNAIL OF MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS A COMBAT CASUALTY IN IRAQ ON FEBRUARY 11, 2005, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEREAS, Specialist Robert Allen McNail, 30, of Meridian, Mississippi, was killed on Friday, February 11, 2005, in a vehicle accident on combat duty in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, carried by a military honor guard, he came home to his family on Saturday, February 19, 2005, as flags at the Meridian Naval Air Station flew at half-staff in his honor; and

WHEREAS, Specialist McNail was a member of Company B, 150th Combat Engineer Battalion out of Quitman, Mississippi, which is attached to the 155th Brigade Combat Team, which includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. He is the second member of the unit to die in Iraq. The 155th Brigade is comprised of soldiers from 49 communities in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, he is the 22nd soldier or sailor with Mississippi ties to die in the war in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Specialist McNail, a native of Meridian, Mississippi, is the sixth Mississippi National Guard soldier to give his life in Iraq and the second to die this year. He was engaged to be married and leaves behind a 3-year-old son; and

WHEREAS, Robert was an outgoing young man who was studying to be a nurse at Meridian Community College and worked in a civilian role at the Naval Air Station before being deployed; his brigade underwent training at Camp Shelby and left for the Middle East in January 2005; and

WHEREAS, Robert's last communication to his family spoke of the troops' first mortar attack and listed the 22 members of his unit in hopes that a church would adopt the unit, unselfishly putting other members ahead of himself; and

WHEREAS, his family has received an outpouring of grief and support from across the state, demonstrating the community acknowledgment of the sacrifice made by the Mississippi National Guard; and

WHEREAS, he is survived by his son, Edward Allen McNail of Quitman, Mississippi; parents, Marvin and Linda McNail of Meridian; a brother, Brian McNail and his wife, Debra, of Fort Meade, Maryland; his fiancee, Denise Potts, and her children, Daniel and Sheridan of Meridian; his grandfathers, Walter Farris Wright, and his wife, Claudie, of Yazoo City, and Edward McNail, and his wife, Elsie, of Salem, Missouri; nieces and nephews, David McNail, Calyn McNail and Carmel McNail, all of Fort Meade, Maryland; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Honorary pallbearers will be the 21 members of his platoon and Sergeant Howse stationed in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Mississippians understand the costs of conflict because we have paid them in the past, and it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of this great American and Mississippian, who was the guardian of civilization as we know it today:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby remember the gallant service and commend the life of Specialist Robert Allen McNail of Meridian, Mississippi, who was killed in action in Iraq on Friday, February 11, 2005, and extend the thoughts and prayers of the Legislature to his family and our sorrow on his passing.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Specialist McNail and be made available to The Meridian Star and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.