Following a unanimous resolution by state lawmakers, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday presented Chris Kyle‘s widow with the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor.
The presentation was authorized by a House resolution introduced with strong bipartisan support to posthumously issue the award, the state’s highest military honor, to the Texas-born “American Sniper.” The resolution sped through both chambers of the legislature in May without a single nay vote and was signed by Abbott last month.
“Since its inception, the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor has been awarded to those in the State of Texas who have demonstrated extraordinary heroism as a member of state or federal military forces, and there is no one more deserving of this year’s award than Chief Petty Officer Chris Kyle,” said Abbott in a statement.
First authorized in 1997, the medal may only be awarded to federal or state military personnel and has been granted 10 times, nine of which were posthumous. Kyle’s medal was presented to his wife, Taya, in a ceremony this week at the governor’s mansion in Austin.
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