Special to The News

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday delivered remarks at the Texas Legislature’s Fallen Heroes Memorial Ceremony at the State Capitol. Abbott recognized the five Texans who lost their lives serving in the United States Armed Forces since 2017, and honored all those who have died in military service since the founding of our nation.

“It is our duty to honor those that died in service to this great nation and sacrificed everything to keep us free,” Abbott said. “Our fallen military heroes were more than remarkable soldiers. They were sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, siblings, friends, and members of our communities. May we use today and everyday as an opportunity to remember our fallen heroes.”

The following were honored in this year’s ceremony:

• Army Master Sgt. Jonathan Dunbar of Austin died in an improvised explosive device
• Army Sgt. Cameron Meddock of Spearman died in a small-arms fire in Afghanistan in January 2019.
• Army Specialist Alexander Missildine of Tyler died in an IED attack in Iraq in October 2017.
• Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Lee M. Smith of Arlington, TX died in a non-combat incident in Iraq in November 2017.
• Army Sgt. Allen Levi Stigler Jr. of Arlington, TX died while engaged in combat operations in Iraq in August 2017.