MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Albritton, Harvey, Brown, Browning, Butler, Carmichael, Chaney, Clarke, Davis, Dearing, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Jackson (15th), Jackson (11th), Jordan, King, Kirby, Little, Mettetal, Michel, Moffatt, Morgan, Pickering, Posey, Thomas, Walley, Walls, White, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT SABURANT "SABE" PARKER OF FOXWORTH, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS A COMBAT CASUALTY IN IRAQ ON MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, Sergeant Saburant "Sabe" Parker, 43, of Foxworth, Mississippi, was killed on Monday, May 23, 2005, when a bomb exploded near his Humvee in Haswa, 30 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq, one of four members of the Mississippi-based 155th Brigade Combat Team; and
WHEREAS, carried by a military honor guard, he came home to his community and family, and was remembered at a special memorial service at Hurricane Creek Baptist Church near Columbia, Mississippi, on Saturday, May 28, 2005, was buried on Tuesday, May 31, 2005, in Andrews, North Carolina, with full military honors; and
WHEREAS, the 155th Infantry Brigade Combat Team includes 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi and others from Vermont and Arkansas. The 155th, which is attached to the II Marine Expeditionary Force, operates in the Karbala, Najaf and Babil provinces of Iraq. The soldiers trained at Camp Shelby before being deployed to Iraq in January. The deaths of these four brave guardsmen brings the total in the 155th Brigade to at least 10 in 2005. Since military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq began, 32 soldiers with ties to Mississippi have died. The Mississippi National Guard has sustained the fourth-highest number of casualties of any state; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Parker was a 16-year veteran with the National Guard and had previously served in Bosnia. He worked at a lumber company in Angie, Louisiana. He was a family man who "loved his kids and loved what he did for a living." He was a quiet, intelligent man, who enjoyed fishing and hunting; and often took his daughters with him on outings. He loved his country and realized that we are all very blessed with what we have here in America and Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, during his memorial service, Sergeant Parker was awarded the Bronze Star, the Mississippi Medal of Valor and the Purple Heart posthumously by Major General Harold Cross, Adjutant General of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, his family received an outpouring of grief and support from across the state, demonstrating the community's acknowledgment of the sacrifice made by the Mississippi National Guard; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife of 20 years, Kitza Parker; two daughters, Merissa and Sheliah Parker; a stepson, Ramsey Cumpton; mother-in-law, Dimple Compton; mother, Ora Lee Hayes; other relatives who live in North Carolina; and numerous close friends; and
WHEREAS, to a country, a fallen soldier means a national loss; to a community, a fallen soldier means a true hero; to a parent, a fallen soldier means a son who will not be coming home. Mississippians understand the costs of conflict, because we have paid them in the past. 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 Sergeant Saburant "Sabe" Parker of Foxworth, Mississippi, who was a combat casualty in Iraq on Monday, May 23, 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 Sergeant Parker and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.