HR0305 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate United States Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Russel W. Harp for winning the 2010 Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, SSgt. Russel Harp was born in Paducah, Kentucky, on January 27, 1980; he attended Century High School in Ullin, where he graduated as class vice president in May of 1998; during high school, he received letters each year in basketball and baseball, as well as all-conference honors during his junior and senior years in both sports; he also earned the Mr. Centurion award; after graduating from high school, he attended Shawnee Community College; he recently earned his associate's degree from the Community College of the Air Force and his bachelor's degree in business management from Mid-Continent University; he is currently pursuing a master's degree in human relations at Mid-Continent University; and

WHEREAS, After attending Shawnee Community College, SSgt. Russel Harp enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard as a combat engineer, specializing in explosives/demolition; he served 6 years with the 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau, Missouri; as a member of the 1140th, he was deployed to Iraq for his first tour overseas and spent 13 months in theater during his deployment; and

WHEREAS, Six months after his enlistment with the Army National Guard had been fulfilled, SSgt. Russel Harp enlisted in the Illinois Air National Guard and became a member of the 126th Civil Engineering Fire Emergency Services Department at Scott Air Force Base; he received top graduate honors from the Louis F. Garland Fire Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas by leading his classmates during practical evaluations, as well as having the highest combined test scores on written evaluations; upon arriving at Scott AFB, he quickly progressed from a basic firefighter trainee to obtaining his 7-level upgrade in his career field; and

WHEREAS, SSgt. Russel Harp has been the recipient of numerous military awards for his service, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, 2 Army Achievement Medals, and the Army Good Conduct Medal; and

WHEREAS, SSgt. Russel Harp is currently employed with the Illinois Department of Corrections at the Dixon Springs Impact Incarceration Program as a correctional officer/drill instructor at the paramilitary boot camp; he supervises a GED tutoring program in an effort to help inmates at Dixon Springs earn their GED; he is also a member of the audit team, the transfer team, and the tactical team, as well as the primary minor contraband custodian and the primary contract monitor; and

WHEREAS, SSgt. Russel Harp volunteers at Bethel's Martial Arts Academy, where he helps instruct children between the ages of 4-16 in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu; he is also a lifetime member of the VFW in Cairo, Illinois and a member of the Masonic Lodge in Vienna, Illinois; and

WHEREAS, SSgt. Russel Harp and his loving wife, Shonda Harp, have 2 daughters, Toni and Tyli; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate United States Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Russel W. Harp for winning the 2010 Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year Award and wish him continued success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to SSgt. Russel Harp as a symbol of our esteem and respect.