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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
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learn of the death in Afghanistan of Specialist Ryan C. Garbs 
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of Edwardsville on February 18, 2007; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Specialist Ryan C. Garbs was mortally injured in a 
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helicopter crash while executing operations in support of 
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Operation Enduring Freedom; he was assigned to Company B, 3rd 
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Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ryan Garbs was born October 17, 1986 in Maryville, 
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the son of Douglas & Jill Anne Burkard Garbs; he was a member 
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of Glen Carbon New Bethel United Methodist Church; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After graduating from Edwardsville High School in 
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2005, Specialist Garbs entered the United States Army, 
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completing basic training and advanced individual training in 
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the military occupational specialty of Infantryman at Fort 
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Benning, Georgia; he continued his military training and 
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graduated from the United States Army Airborne School in 
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February of 2006; following graduation from the Ranger 
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Indoctrination Program, he was assigned to 1st Platoon, B 
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Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in March of 2006; 
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and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Specialist Garbs was a two-time veteran of the 
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Global War on Terrorism deployed in support of Operation 
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Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom; he 
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was assigned to 3rd Battalion, where he served as a grenadier 
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and rifleman; his awards and decorations include the Army 
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Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global 
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War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, 
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the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and 
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the Parachutist Badge; and
 
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    WHEREAS, He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal, 
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Meritorious Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal, and was 
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promoted from Private 1st Class to Specialist; as a Ranger, 
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Specialist Garbs distinguished himself as a member of the 
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Army's premier light infantry unit, traveled to all corners of 
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the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and fought 
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valiantly to "uphold the prestige, honor, and high 'espirit de 
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corp' of the Ranger Regiment; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Ryan C. Garbs is survived by his parents, Douglas 
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and Jill Anne Garbs; his sister, Melanie Neely (husband, Staff 
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Sergeant Matthew Neely, United States Air Force); his paternal 
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grandfather, Lawrence Garbs; his paternal grandmother, Geneva 
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"Jean" Garbs; and his maternal grandmother, Vera M. Burkard;  he 
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was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, A.A. (Bill) 
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Burkard; therefore, be it

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of Specialist Ryan C. 
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Garbs; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Ryan C. Garbs and his 
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willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the 
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ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Ryan C. Garbs as a symbol of our 
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sympathy.