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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
4who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the
5ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Senior Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens of
7Peoria, enlisted in the United States Navy in August of 1998;
8he entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training
9in Coronado, California on June 14, 2001; he graduated in
10September of 2002, after six months of the most grueling and
11demanding training in the military; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Senior Chief Owens was a highly decorated combat
13veteran with numerous awards and 12 deployments; his awards
14include the Silver Star, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, three
15Bronze Star Medals with Valor, a Bronze Star Medal, a Purple
16Heart Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, two Joint
17Service Commendation Medals with Valor, two Navy and Marine
18Corps Commendation Medals, the Joint Service Achievement
19Medal, three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and
20numerous other personal and unit decorations; and
 
21    WHEREAS, On January 29, 2017, Senior Chief Owens died from
22wounds sustained while in combat supporting overseas

 

 

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1contingency operations; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Senior Chief Owens is survived by his wife, their
3three children, and his father; therefore, be it
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
5ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
6CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 29 within
7the Chillicothe city limits as the "Senior Chief Petty Officer
8William "Ryan" Owens Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
10is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
11State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
12giving notice of the name the "Senior Chief Petty Officer
13William "Ryan" Owens Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
14    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
15presented to the family of Senior Chief Owens, Chillicothe
16Mayor Douglas P. Crew, and the Secretary of the Department of
17Transportation.