MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2005 2nd Extraordinary Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Hewes, Brown, Browning, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Chaney, Clarke, Davis, Dearing, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Jackson (15th), Jackson (11th), Jordan, King, Lee (35th), Little, Mettetal, Michel, Moffatt, Morgan, Pickering, Posey, Thomas, Walley, Walls, White, Wilemon, Williamson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF SPECIALIST DANIEL VARNADO OF GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS A COMBAT CASUALTY IN IRAQ ON MONDAY, MAY 23, 2005, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, Specialist Daniel Varnado, 23, of Gulfport, Mississippi, and a native of Saucier, 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 buried Friday, June 3, 2005, at Biloxi National Cemetery, Biloxi, Mississippi, with full military honors; and
WHEREAS, the 155th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, known as "Dixie Thunder", 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 2004. 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, Spec. Varnado played baseball at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College before being deployed to Iraq in January, 2004. He had signed a letter of intent to pitch at the University of West Alabama at Livingston, which was to be honored when he returned from active duty. Danny had played high school baseball at Harrison Central and had volunteered as an umpire for the Babe Ruth league in Orange Grove. He is remembered as a down-to-earth, popular guy who had a life-long dream to pitch in the major leagues. He was a great leader on the "ball field and on the battlefield"; and
WHEREAS, during his funeral, Specialist Varnado 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, Danny Varnado is survived by his wife, Sharon; a 2-year-old son, Kannon Joshua Varnado (named for the tattoo of a cannon on Danny's arm because of the speed of his fastball); parents, David and Joni Varnado of Saucier; brother, Dusty Varnado; sister, Destini Varnado; grandparents, Delphine Varnado, Gwen Stokes and Bruce Allen; and other relatives and 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 won't be coming home. 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 Daniel (Danny) Varnado of Gulfport, Mississippi, who was killed in action 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 Specialist Varnado and be made available to members of the Capitol Press Corps.