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Texas House Honors Former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle

Chris Kyle Memorial Service
Chris Kyle's coffin sits near the Cowboys star in the center of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington for his Memorial Service Monday

AUSTIN (AP) -- The Texas House has unanimously passed a resolution honoring slain former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle.

Waxahachie Republican Rep. Jim Pitts said Kyle, who authored the best-selling book "American Sniper," "was clearly dedicated to the idea of putting others first."

Pitts said that in a perfect world, Kyle would not have been shot dead Feb. 2.

He said "our world is not a perfect world" but that Kyle was "trying to get us closer to that ideal."

Widow Taya Kyle was among those who gathered in front of the House. As representatives stood to formally approve the memorial resolution, she softly and briefly clapped her hands.

Iraq War veteran Eddie Ray Routh has been charged in the killings of Kyle and his friend Chad Littlefield at a North Texas gun range.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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