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

1Explosive Ordnance Disposition Battalion on the front lines in
2Afghanistan; and

3WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman possessed an exacting and determined
4personality and demonstrated true professionalism to his
5comrades in their dangerous yet vital assignment of bomb
6disposal; and

7WHEREAS, Major General Todd Semonite described Sergeant
8Holman as "one of the best EOD technicians out there"; and

9WHEREAS, On August 15, 2012, Sergeant Holman was tasked with
10disarming three roadside bombs; and

11WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman was killed when the final bomb he
12was defusing was triggered remotely and exploded; and

13WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman is a true American hero who,
14according to his friend, the Reverend Dave Lewis, "never ran
15away from anything" and "was always quick to take control or
16assume responsibility"; and

17WHEREAS, Speaking of Sergeant Holman, longtime friend Dave
18Coughlin stated, "there were so many that he touched through the
19chapters of his life . . . Eric touched all of us"; and

20WHEREAS, For his bravery and heroism, Sergeant Holman was
21posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the
22Meritorious Service Medal; and

23WHEREAS, A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University,
24Sergeant Holman had a passion for skydiving that was eclipsed
25only by his drive to serve his country and his love for his
26family; and

27WHEREAS, Sergeant Holman is survived by his wife, Terri; his
28son, Misha; his mother, Carol◄; and his father, David; and

29WHEREAS, It is fitting to commend the patriotic and heroic
30contributions that Sergeant Holman made, to be saddened by this

1brave soldier's death and to honor the supreme sacrifice he paid
2on behalf of this nation and this Commonwealth; therefore be it

3RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life
4and express condolences upon the death of Staff Sergeant Eric
5Holman, an American hero who paid the supreme sacrifice on
6August 15, 2012, while serving his country in Afghanistan.