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1 | | HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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2 | | WHEREAS, It is appropriate for us to remember the many |
3 | | sacrifices and contributions to the cause of freedom made by |
4 | | the outstanding men and women who served in the United States |
5 | | Armed Forces and gave the ultimate sacrifice defending |
6 | | America's freedom; and
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7 | | WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda was one of seven |
8 | | members of the 2nd Marine Division whose lives were lost on |
9 | | March 18, 2013, in an explosion during training at the |
10 | | Hawthorne Army Depot in western Nevada; he was the most senior |
11 | | of those lost on that day, both in age and rank; and |
12 | | WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda was born January 6, |
13 | | 1987 in Breese and graduated from Highland High School in 2005; |
14 | | during high school, he played football and was involved in the |
15 | | school's annual madrigal dinner; and
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16 | | WHEREAS, After high school, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda |
17 | | attended St. Xavier University in Chicago for a year and then |
18 | | enrolled in and graduated from the L'Ecole Culinaire School in |
19 | | St. Louis, Missouri; and |
20 | | WHEREAS, Being an avid traveler, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda |
21 | | felt a calling to explore the world by becoming a Marine in |
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1 | | 2008; while at Camp Lejeune, he developed a passion for |
2 | | sailing, bought a two-person sailboat, and often took friends |
3 | | out on a bay near the base; and
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4 | | WHEREAS, While enlisted in the Marine Corps, Corporal Aaron |
5 | | J. Ripperda traveled to several countries, including Haiti to |
6 | | help with recovery efforts after the 2010 earthquake, and |
7 | | Afghanistan; in April of 2011, he was promoted to the rank of |
8 | | corporal; among his numerous honors were a Navy Unit |
9 | | Commendation and a Humanitarian Service Medal; and
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10 | | WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda is survived by his |
11 | | father, Kent (Colleen) Ripperda; his mother, Tina (Jeff) |
12 | | Sutton; his sister, Kendall (significant other, Charlie Swaim) |
13 | | Ripperda; his paternal grandmother, Rita Ripperda; his |
14 | | maternal grandfather, Ronald (Jackie) Lesicko; his special |
15 | | friend, Jessica Iskrzycki; his aunts and uncles, Kurt (Lynn) |
16 | | Ripperda, Cara (significant other, John Zerkle) Tomasek, |
17 | | William (Beverly) Lesicko, Patrick (Julie) Lesicko; and his |
18 | | many cousins; and
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19 | | WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General |
20 | | Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals |
21 | | who have served our country and, in doing so, have gone above |
22 | | and beyond the call of duty to take part in truly heroic tasks; |
23 | | therefore, be it |
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1 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
2 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE |
3 | | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of |
4 | | Illinois Route 143 within the city limits of Highland as the |
5 | | Cpl. Aaron J. Ripperda Memorial Highway; and be it further
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6 | | RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation |
7 | | is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with |
8 | | State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs |
9 | | giving notice of the name of the Cpl. Aaron J. Ripperda |
10 | | Memorial Highway; and be it further |
11 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be |
12 | | presented to the family of Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda and the |
13 | | Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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