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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 combat and gave the |
5 | | ultimate sacrifice; and
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6 | | WHEREAS, United States Army Staff Sergeant Matthew W. |
7 | | Weikert was born on May 15, 1981 in Sioux City, Iowa; his |
8 | | parents were Richard W. "Dick" and Susan B. Weikert; and
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9 | | WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert was a 2000 graduate |
10 | | of Jacksonville High School, where he was a member of the |
11 | | soccer team; he was also a member of the First Presbyterian |
12 | | Church in Jacksonville; and
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13 | | WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert enlisted in the |
14 | | United States Marine Corps in August of 2001 and served 3 tours |
15 | | in Iraq in only 4 years; he later enlisted in the United States |
16 | | Army, where he completed another tour in Iraq; and
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17 | | WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert was serving in |
18 | | Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, |
19 | | 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne Division (Air |
20 | | Assault), out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky at the time of his |
21 | | death; as a military leader, he had the courage to endure 5 |
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| | HJ0060 | - 2 - | LRB098 14460 GRL 49170 r |
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1 | | deployments in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom |
2 | | and considered it his personal mission to properly prepare the |
3 | | soldiers under his command and keep them safe from harm; and
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4 | | WHEREAS, After his dismounted patrol encountered an |
5 | | improvised explosive device, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert |
6 | | was wounded, but was able to radio the coordinates of their |
7 | | group; helicopters were deployed to the scene, saving the life |
8 | | of 2 soldiers also wounded in the attack; and
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9 | | WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert was the recipient |
10 | | of numerous decorations for his meritorious service, including |
11 | | the Combat Action Ribbon (Navy/Marine), the Presidential Unit |
12 | | Citation (Navy/Marine), the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the |
13 | | Army Good Conduct Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, |
14 | | the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service |
15 | | Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, |
16 | | the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War |
17 | | on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Navy |
18 | | Reserve Sea Service with 2 Stars, the NATO Medal, the Combat |
19 | | Infantry Badge, and the Combat Action Badge; he was also |
20 | | awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star; and
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21 | | WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert gave his life |
22 | | defending America's freedom on July 17, 2010, in the Paktika |
23 | | Province in Southern Afghanistan; and
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1 | | WHEREAS, United States and Illinois State flags throughout |
2 | | the State of Illinois flew at half-staff from July 24 to July |
3 | | 26, 2010; in addition, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear ordered |
4 | | the flags to fly at half-staff on July 26, 2010 as a symbol of |
5 | | mourning and honor for the sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Matthew |
6 | | Weikert; and |
7 | | WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Matthew Weikert will be remembered |
8 | | for his love of country, his generous spirit, his patriotism, |
9 | | and his love for his family and friends; and |
10 | | WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General |
11 | | Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals |
12 | | who have served our country and, in doing so, have gone above |
13 | | and beyond the call of duty to take part in truly heroic tasks; |
14 | | therefore, be it
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15 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
16 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE |
17 | | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of "Old |
18 | | U.S. Route 36" along Morton Avenue in Jacksonville from west of |
19 | | U.S. Route 67 to north of I-72 at Exit 68 as the SSG Matthew |
20 | | Ward Weikert U.S. Army/USMC Memorial Highway; and be it further
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21 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be |