2007 Senate Resolution 12
ENGROSSED RESOLUTION
Relating to: the life of Lt. Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez of the United States Army, who lost her life during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Whereas, Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez was born in 1983 in Heidelberg, Germany, and later moved to Fort Washington, Maryland; and
Whereas, Emily was inspired by the example of her father and her grandfather, who both served in the United State Army; and
Whereas, in 1998, while in high school, Emily assisted in starting an HIV-AIDS ministry at Peace Baptist Church and was honored for her work as an AIDS educator by the American Red Cross; and
Whereas, in 2001, Emily graduated from Oxon Hill High School and enrolled in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where she ran track and sang in the gospel choir; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez went on to become the first African American woman to serve as brigade command sergeant major in West Point's history, the third-highest ranking in the cadet chain of command; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez graduated from West Point in the top 10 percent of her class. She was deployed to Iraq in December 2005; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez served as a medical service corps officer in Iraq, as a member of the 204th Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez provided faithful and honorable service to the United States of America; and
Whereas, on September 12, 2006, Lt. Emily Perez was killed by an improvised explosive device in Al Kifl, Iraq; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez was the first female West Point graduate to be killed in Iraq; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez's decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge; and
Whereas, the people of the United States, and of the state of Wisconsin, mourn the death of Lt. Perez and celebrate the accomplishments of her extraordinary, yet all too short, life; and
Whereas, Lt. Perez is survived by her parents, Daniel and Vicki Perez of Fort Washington, and brother, Kevyn; and
Whereas, the adoption of this senate resolution is supported not only by the senate, but also by members of the assembly, including specifically Representatives Sheridan, Schneider, Young, Grigsby, Sinicki, Mason, Fields, Benedict, Turner, and Hintz; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the senate, That the members of the Wisconsin senate commemorate the remarkable life of Lt. Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez and extend their deepest sympathies to Lt. Perez's family, friends, and colleagues.
