2015 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 15-1024 BY REPRESENTATIVE(S) Wilson, Arndt, Becker J., Becker K., Brown, Buck, Carver, Conti, Coram, Court, Danielson, DelGrosso, Dore, Duran, Esgar, Everett, Fields, Foote, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Humphrey, Joshi, Kagan, Keyser, Klingenschmitt, Kraft-Tharp, Landgraf, Lawrence, Lebsock, Lee, Lontine, Lundeen, McCann, Melton, Mitsch Bush, Moreno, Navarro, Neville P., Nordberg, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rankin, Ransom, Rosenthal, Roupe, Ryden, Saine, Salazar, Singer, Tate, Thurlow, Tyler, Van Winkle, Vigil, Willett, Williams, Windholz, Winter, Young, Hullinghorst, Sias; also SENATOR(S) Crowder, Aguilar, Balmer, Baumgardner, Carroll, Cooke, Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Hill, Hodge, Holbert, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Lundberg, Marble, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Neville T., Newell, Roberts, Scheffel, Scott, Sonnenberg, Steadman, Todd, Ulibarri, Woods, Cadman. CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF A PORTION OF HIGHWAY 96 AS THE "U.S. ARMY RANGER CHRISTOPHER A. HORNS MEMORIAL HIGHWAY". WHEREAS, Christopher A. Horns was born on November 10, 1990, in Sumter, South Carolina; and WHEREAS, Born into a military household, Private First Class (PFC) Horns' family moved every 3 years before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he attended James Irwin Middle School and later Fountain-Fort Carson High School where he graduated in 2009; and WHEREAS, During his youth, PFC Horns was very active, participating in BMX (bicycle motocross), tee-ball, and football, playing for Sierra High School for 2 seasons; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns also joined the Civil Air Patrol at Peterson Air Force Base for 2 years and completed encampment at the Air Force Academy; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns loved Colorado and even worked at Vail Mountain Resort for a season so that he could enjoy the best that Colorado has to offer; and WHEREAS, With his family, PFC Horns hiked 14ers, traveled Colorado Jeep trails, and went dirt biking on many trails; and WHEREAS, The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve was a particular favorite of PFC Horns', where he would glide down the sand dunes on his snowboard; and WHEREAS, During their outdoors adventures, PFC Horns and his family would always make a point to travel Highway 96, stopping at Bishop Castle where he and his sister, Tiffany, would race to the top of the iron rails to see who would make it to the top first, before continuing on through Westcliffe, Colorado; and WHEREAS, In January 2010, PFC Horns joined the United States Army as an infantry soldier through the Delayed Entry Program, stating that he wanted "to join the Army to fill the boots of the soldiers that have given their lives for me."; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns graduated basic training on October 29, 2010, but before advancing to his duty station in Alaska, he was offered a Ranger position; and WHEREAS, Before making a decision, PFC Horns consulted with his family and chaplain to confirm his heartfelt sentiment; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns eventually made the decision to train with the best the Army had to offer, and became a Ranger with the United States Army; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns completed his advanced training through the United States Army Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and later completed the Ranger Assessment Selection Program (RASP) there; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns' class was initially comprised of 176 soldiers, of which only 67 completed the program. PFC Horns was one of those 67 soldiers, graduating from RASP in March 2011; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington with the Company C, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment; and WHEREAS, On August 26, 2011, PFC Horns was deployed to Afghanistan; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns was a family-oriented man and called home every 3 to 4 days to assure his family he was doing well; and WHEREAS, Before joining the Army, PFC Horns said to his mother, "If you don't have a purpose in life it is not worth living." While deployed he told his family that he had found his purpose in life: To fight for the freedom of his family and his brothers-in-arms; and WHEREAS, On October 21, 2011, PFC Horns was on a night mission with his platoon and stepped on an improvised explosive device; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns died of his wounds at the young age of 20 years old; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns is the first member on both sides of his family to be Killed in Action; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns' awards and decorations include the Parachutist Badge, the United States Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badge, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal for Combat Service, the Army Commendation Medal for Peacetime Service, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; and WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Hodne, Battalion Commander at the time of PFC Horns' death, stated, "On his first combat deployment, Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Horns demonstrated all the qualities we look for in our U.S. Army Rangers. Courageous and disciplined, he lost his life while pressing the assault in an area known for insurgent activity. He earned the universal respect of seniors and peers alike. We will honor his service and remember his sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Horns family."; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns' family has purchased and renovated a cabin on the West side of the Wet Mountains, about a mile off of Highway 96; and WHEREAS, The family has named the cabin and its accompanying 7 acres as "The U.S. Army Ranger Chris Horns' Estates"; and WHEREAS, Their plan is to open the cabin to other military soldiers and their families so that they may visit and enjoy the peace they fight for everyday; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns loved the Sangre de Cristo Mountains range, cruising through Medano Pass, 4-wheeling Hermit Road, camping alongside trails decorated with fall aspens, and smelling the aroma of the campfire he so elegantly constructed, and his last wish was for his family to cremate his body and spread his ashes in the mountains of Colorado; and WHEREAS, PFC Horns was an amazing young man full of life, laughter, and love for his family, brothers-in-arms, and country, and it is fitting that he be recognized for his bravery and service so that we may never forget his sacrifice to our great nation; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventieth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein: (1) That the portion of Highway 96 from mile marker 7 to mile marker 8, in between Westcliffe, Colorado, and Wetmore, Colorado, be renamed the "U.S. Army Ranger Christopher A. Horns Memorial Highway"; (2) That the Colorado Department of Transportation may accept and expend gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of the initial placement of signs to mark Highway 96 from mile marker 7 to mile marker 8 as the "U.S. Army Ranger Christopher A. Horns Memorial Highway"; and (3) That the Colorado Department of Transportation may explore a cooperative agreement with the Board of County Commissioners for Custer County for the maintenance of the signs marking the "U.S. Army Ranger Christopher A. Horns Memorial Highway". Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the parents of Private First Class Christopher A. Horns, Larry and Tamara Horns; the town of Westcliffe; the mayor of Westcliffe, Christy Veltrie; the town of Wetmore; the Executive Director of the Department of Transportation; and the Colorado Transportation Commission. ________________________________________________________ Dickey Lee Hullinghorst Bill L. Cadman SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PRESIDENT OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE ____________________________ ____________________________ Marilyn Eddins Cindi L. Markwell CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE SECRETARY OF OF REPRESENTATIVES THE SENATE