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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives wish to congratulate Chief James F. Burke Jr. | ||||||
| 4 | on the occasion of his retirement from the Wood Dale Fire | ||||||
| 5 | Protection District on November 9, 2023; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke has dedicated 43 years of his life to | ||||||
| 7 | serving the residents of DuPage County, exhibiting unwavering | ||||||
| 8 | commitment and tireless dedication; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke commenced his illustrious career as a | ||||||
| 10 | part-time/paid-on-call firefighter with the Wood Dale Fire | ||||||
| 11 | Protection District in 1980, serving the Wood Dale community | ||||||
| 12 | until 1982; and | ||||||
| 13 | WHEREAS, In 1982, Chief Burke transitioned to the Addison | ||||||
| 14 | Fire Protection District, where he ascended the ranks from | ||||||
| 15 | firefighter/paramedic to the position of deputy chief, | ||||||
| 16 | furthering his service to the citizens of DuPage County;; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke exhibited exemplary leadership by | ||||||
| 18 | directing vocational firefighter and EMT training for high | ||||||
| 19 | school students at the Technology Center of DuPage, which | ||||||
| 20 | benefited numerous students from over 14 member school | ||||||
| 21 | districts in DuPage County; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, In 2011, Chief Burke retired from the Addison | ||||||
| 2 | Fire Protection District and assumed the role of fire chief | ||||||
| 3 | for the Itasca Fire Protection District, where he continued to | ||||||
| 4 | demonstrate exceptional leadership until 2022; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke's legacy was further enriched when he | ||||||
| 6 | returned to his roots in 2022, becoming the fire chief for the | ||||||
| 7 | Wood Dale Fire Protection District, a testament to his | ||||||
| 8 | enduring dedication to the community where his firefighting | ||||||
| 9 | journey began; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke's remarkable career has extended | ||||||
| 11 | beyond his frontline duties as he has inspired and mentored | ||||||
| 12 | countless individuals, encouraging them to join the fire | ||||||
| 13 | service and become stewards of public safety; and | ||||||
| 14 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke's influence has reverberated through | ||||||
| 15 | his service on various boards and committees, including | ||||||
| 16 | overseeing Mutual Aid Box Alarm System operations spanning | ||||||
| 17 | most of DuPage County and parts of northwest Cook County and | ||||||
| 18 | serving as president of MABAS Division 12, as president of the | ||||||
| 19 | DuPage County Fire Chiefs Association, and as a valued member | ||||||
| 20 | of the DuPage County Health Department's H.O.P.E. Task Force, | ||||||
| 21 | addressing critical issues of Heroin Opioid Prevention & | ||||||
| 22 | Education; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke is an exemplar of valor, leadership, | ||||||
| 2 | and community spirit; and | ||||||
| 3 | WHEREAS, Chief Burke will be honored and celebrated on the | ||||||
| 4 | occasion of his retirement from the Wood Dale Fire Protection | ||||||
| 5 | District on November 9, 2023; therefore, be it | ||||||
| 6 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 7 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 8 | we congratulate Chief James F. Burke Jr. on the occasion of his | ||||||
| 9 | retirement from the Wood Dale Fire Protection District on | ||||||
| 10 | November 9, 2023; and be it further | ||||||
| 11 | RESOLVED, That we express our deepest gratitude to Chief | ||||||
| 12 | Burke Jr. for his extraordinary dedication and selfless | ||||||
| 13 | service and for the enduring positive impact he has made on the | ||||||
| 14 | community; and be it further | ||||||
| 15 | RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to | ||||||
| 16 | Chief Burke as a symbol of our esteem and respect. | ||||||