Chapter 0099 - 502R - H Ver of HB2440

Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona

Senate

Fiftieth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2012

SENATE RESOLUTION 1005

A RESOLUTION

on the death of Army Specialist michael d. elm.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Army Specialist Michael Davis Elm died in service to his country on October 14, 2011 at the age of twenty-five.

Mike Elm was born on November 27, 1985 in Mesa, Arizona. He displayed his leadership abilities at a young age through his participation in sports, theater, comedy and Boy Scouts. He was a leader in the Youth in Government program, serving as a delegate to the state Model Legislature several times and leading successful legislative pushes. As a result of his efforts, Mike won recognition as Best Representative for two years in a row as well as a Minority Leader Award. He was also deeply involved in DECA, developing creative and humorous marketing and plans that won at local, state, regional and national levels, including one that eventually placed second in the world competition.

After graduating from Greenway High School in 2004, Mike enrolled in the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. But after a year and a half of studies there, he was not satisfied with where his life was going, so in the fall of 2009 he decided to enter the armed services. He embraced the Army and his basic training regimen, and he was named the "Honor Graduate" of the class of recruits at Fort Benning , Georgia.

Michael wanted to serve in infantry and was pleased to be assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regimen, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky, part of "the Big Red 1" that had played crucial combat roles in World War I and World War II. He remained at Knox until his first deployment at the beginning of 2011, when he was sent to the dangerous region along the Pakistan border in Afghanistan. His unit developed its own intelligence team, and through Mike's work, the unit was able to identify and destroy 17 terrorist cells. He was his unit's self‑proclaimed "Morale Officer," making jokes and pulling pranks so the difficulties of war were easier for his band of brothers to handle. Nonetheless, Mike grew restless in the safety of a desk analyst job and volunteered for field missions.

Army Specialist Elm continued to courageously volunteer for missions despite being involved in three explosions involving improvised explosive devices. He was already under consideration for his first Purple Heart when he was directly attacked with an improvised explosive device during a combat mission on October 14, 2011. He died of his wounds en route to the hospital.

Army Specialist Michael Elm was highly decorated for so brief a time in service of his country. He won the Army Achievement Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Medal, the service Ribbon, and a Purple Heart. Posthumously, he was awarded the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, two more Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. Michael Elm showed extraordinary dedication to preserving the freedoms we enjoy and to upholding the lofty principles on which this great nation was founded, and it is fitting that we honor his tremendous service and ultimate sacrifice to our country.

Michael Elm is greatly missed by his parents, Donna and Dennis Elm, his siblings Matt, Margie, Christy and Katie, his extended family and his many friends and comrades. On October 31, 2011, he was laid to rest with full military honors as an American war hero in Arlington National Cemetery. His life, as well as his death, truly exemplified "so costly a sacrifice laid upon the altar of freedom."

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona:

That the Members of the Senate express regret at the passing of Army Specialist Michael Davis Elm and extend their deepest condolences to his surviving family members.