HJ0035 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0035 LRB102 18067 MST 25079 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country and, in doing so, have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe was killed in action during the War in Iraq near the city of Al Hillah on March 31, 2003; he was a member of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) of the United States Army and was based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; he was the first Infantryman of the 101st to be killed in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first from the Northern Illinois Area to be killed in that war; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe was a machine gun (SAW) operator in his infantry unit that was assigned to a tank unit to provide cover; their combined mission was to perform a "feint" to draw attention from the main attacking force; unfortunately, they came into an ambush situation and were completely surrounded; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe's death was the catalyst that led the leader of his unit to get the men to safety, off of their assigned tanks, and to find cover; against great odds, the unit continued to fight for eight hours that day, in spite of the fact that information had been offered that there would be little resistance by the Republican Guard Soldiers; no other lives were lost in the battle, making the mission a success; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe was posthumously awarded many medals, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal; he earned many other awards and recognitions throughout his military career; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe was born in Rockford on April 14, 1982; he graduated from Hononegah High School in 2000; during high school, he worked at DiGiovanni's Restaurant and Highlander Supermarket in Roscoe; he attended Rock Valley College before enlisting in the United States Army in 2001; he planned to continue studying computers after his military service; and

WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe is survived by his paternal grandmother, Tennessee Sanders; his mother, Wendy Borowski; his stepfather, Rick Borowski; his father, Milton Rowe; his stepmother, Debbie Rowe; his sister, Leah (Doug) Yates; his brothers, Brent and Kevin Rowe; his stepsisters, Heidi and Heather Schultz; his nephews, Devon Yates and Jake and Aiden Rowe; and his niece, Grace Yates; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of Illinois Route 251 from Bridge Street in Roscoe to Rockton Road in Roscoe as the Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe Memorial Highway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Tollway is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name of "Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe and the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.