SR0548 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank of Elk Grove Village on April 7, 2004 near the towns of Fallujah and Ramadi in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Phillip E. Frank was born on July 5, 1983 and grew up in Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, He moved to Illinois shortly after is high school graduation in the summer of 2002, and lived with his beloved cousins, Robin and Gary Van Cleave in Deerfield; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Frank learned karate growing up not to defend himself but to protect other kids who were being teased; he was a sensitive, empathetic person who genuinely cared for other people's pain; when the terrorists attacked the United States in 2001, he wanted to join the Marines to ensure that kind of violence didn't hit close to his friends and family ever again; and

WHEREAS, He met his future wife, Keri, in eighth grade, she was the "new kid" in their New jersey school; he was the popular guy who took her under his wing; his relationship with Keri went from friendship to romance when she visited him the summer after graduation; he went to boot camp that fall and when they reunited in April, he proposed; four months later, the couple were married; she stated that her husband's commitment to protecting the nation and preventing further terrorist attacks is what led him to join the Marines; and

WHEREAS, Phillip Frank joined the Marines in the fall of 2002; he was assigned to the Golf Company of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton, California; he was a proud Marine who loved his country and wanted all in this world to experience the freedom enjoyed in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The National Defense Service Medal was awarded to Cpl. Frank for honorable active service; he was proud to be a Marine and loved his country and his willingness to serve our great nation led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank will be deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Keri (nee Johnson); his beloved parents, Roy and Georgette (nee LaScola); his loving sister, Cyndi; his aunts and uncles, Patty Phillips, Marilyn (Sal) Cordasco, Jackie (Mary Ann) LaScola, Anne Wohltman, and Joyce (Louis) Fishberg; his parents-in-law, Rip (Christine) Johnson; his brothers-in-law, J.C. and Kenny Johnson; and his many cousins; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his uncles, Robert Phillips and Ronald Wohltman; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his family, friends, educators, community, and fellow members of the United States armed forces, we mourn the death of Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank, who will be remembered as an outgoing, happy-spirited, energetic young man who was loved by all and offer our deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lance Cpl. Phillip E. Frank as an expression of our deepest sympathy.