1Honoring the life and expressing condolences upon the death of
2Staff Sergeant Eric Holman, an American hero who paid the
3supreme sacrifice on August 15, 2012, while serving his
4country in Afghanistan.

5WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Eric Holman enlisted in the United
6States Army in the months following the events of September 11,
72001; and

8WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman served in the 82nd Airborne Division
9and was a member of the Golden Knights United States Army
10Parachute Team; and

11WHEREAS, After finishing his assignment with the Golden
12Knights, Sergeant Holman decided to join Fort Bragg's 767th
13Explosive Ordnance Disposition Battalion on the front lines in
14Afghanistan; and

1WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman possessed an exacting and determined
2personality and demonstrated true professionalism to his
3comrades in their dangerous yet vital assignment of bomb
4disposal; and

5WHEREAS, Major General Todd Semonite described Sergeant
6Holman as "one of the best EOD technicians out there"; and

7WHEREAS, On August 15, 2012, Sergeant Holman was tasked with
8disarming three roadside bombs; and

9WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman was killed when the final bomb he
10was defusing was triggered remotely and exploded; and

11WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman is a true American hero who,
12according to his friend, the Reverend Dave Lewis, "never ran
13away from anything" and "was always quick to take control or
14assume responsibility"; and

15WHEREAS, Speaking of Sergeant Holman, longtime friend Dave
16Coughlin stated, "there were so many that he touched through the
17chapters of his life . . . Eric touched all of us"; and

18WHEREAS, For his bravery and heroism, Sergeant Holman was
19posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the
20Meritorious Service Medal; and

21WHEREAS, A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University,
22Sergeant Holman had a passion for skydiving that was eclipsed
23only by his drive to serve his country and his love for his
24family; and

25WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman is survived by his wife, Terri; his
26son, Misha; his mother, Jan; and his father, David; and

27WHEREAS, It is fitting to commend the patriotic and heroic
28contributions that Sergeant Holman made, to be saddened by this
29brave soldier's death and to honor the supreme sacrifice he paid
30on behalf of this nation and this Commonwealth; therefore be it

1RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life
2and express condolences upon the death of Staff Sergeant Eric
3Holman, an American hero who paid the supreme sacrifice on
4August 15, 2012, while serving his country in Afghanistan.