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| | HR0696 | | LRB102 26478 MST 36955 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, In 1979 at age 12, Rafael A. Estrada and his |
| 3 | | family fled Nicaragua during the violent civil war to pursue |
| 4 | | freedom in America and Galesburg; and
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| 5 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada graduated from Augustana College |
| 6 | | in Rock Island with a Bachelor of Arts in Political |
| 7 | | Science/International Relations and from North Park University |
| 8 | | in Chicago with a Master of Business Administration; while at |
| 9 | | Augustana, he met his dear and devoted spouse, Amy Bailie |
| 10 | | Estrada; together, they had four wonderful children; and
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| 11 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada would embody the American Dream |
| 12 | | and build a successful national and international business |
| 13 | | career in finance, real estate, and business management; and
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| 14 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada would give to his local community |
| 15 | | in numerous ways, including in service to the Knox County |
| 16 | | Sheriff's Auxiliary Police, rising through the ranks of |
| 17 | | sergeant, lieutenant, and chief during his volunteer tenure; |
| 18 | | and
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| 19 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada never forgot his birthplace of |
| 20 | | Nicaragua and established a foundation, Free and Fair |
| 21 | | Inc/Nicaraguans for Security and Prosperity, based in Illinois |
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| | HR0696 | - 2 - | LRB102 26478 MST 36955 r |
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| 1 | | with remote offices in Texas, Costa Rica, and Spain; and
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada's foundation would provide |
| 3 | | critical supplies, support, and safety for people oppressed by |
| 4 | | the Ortega regime inside Nicaragua and for refugees who fled |
| 5 | | under threats of death, torture, and imprisonment; it also |
| 6 | | provides help to widows, widowers, and family members of those |
| 7 | | killed for their opposition to the government; and
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| 8 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada and his foundation specifically |
| 9 | | aid those persecuted for their religious beliefs, for their |
| 10 | | political positions, and for being members of the media |
| 11 | | exposing corruption and violence against Nicaraguan citizens; |
| 12 | | and
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| 13 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada has testified before U.S. Congress |
| 14 | | and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission to bring light to |
| 15 | | the human rights abuses, where he was introduced by key |
| 16 | | committee member Rep. Darin LaHood of Illinois; and
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| 17 | | WHEREAS, Rafael Estrada has traveled frequently to |
| 18 | | Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Spain to personally help |
| 19 | | the oppressed and persecuted, often at great personal risk to |
| 20 | | himself and his team; therefore, be it
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| 21 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE |
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| | HR0696 | - 3 - | LRB102 26478 MST 36955 r |
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| 1 | | HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 2 | | we express our profound gratitude to Rafael A. Estrada for his |
| 3 | | outstanding and continuing humanitarian, philanthropic, and |
| 4 | | community service in Illinois and around the world; and be it |
| 5 | | further
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| 6 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
| 7 | | presented to Rafael Estrada as an expression of our deepest |
| 8 | | appreciation and respect.
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