HR0313 LRB094 11956 HSS 45041 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, U.S. Army Sergeant Kenneth Levi Ridgley, formerly
3 of Olney, died on March 30, 2005, protecting his squad members
4 from enemy fire at a checkpoint in Mosul, Iraq; just before he
5 gave his life, he valiantly killed several insurgents while
6 saving the lives of the members of his unit; and
 
7     WHEREAS, The men of his squad and platoon are alive because
8 of the actions of Sgt. Ridgley, who sacrificed everything for
9 the men he was sworn to lead and protect; his actions ended the
10 firefight, allowing his men to be evacuated for medical
11 attention; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley joined the Illinois Army National
13 Guard while a senior in high school, attended Southern Illinois
14 University, and after fulfilling his obligation to the National
15 Guard, he joined the Army and was a member of the 3rd
16 Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry
17 Division, stationed at Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Washington; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley was a 1993 graduate of East Richland
19 High School and was a champion steer roper during his time in
20 high school and college; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley will be remembered as a competitive
22 young man with a sweet disposition who loved riding horses and
23 playing the drums; and
 
24     WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley leaves behind his mother, Betty
25 Richards; his father, Clarence Richards; his wife as of August
26 7, 2004, Charity, and her 3-year-old son, Dillon; and his
27 brother and three sisters; and
 
28     WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley volunteered for this second tour of
29 duty in Iraq after having served as a medic at the beginning of

 

 

HR0313 - 2 - LRB094 11956 HSS 45041 r

1 the war due to emergency medical training he received in Olney;
2 therefore, be it
 
3     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5 together with his family, friends, fellow members of the United
6 States armed forces, and the citizens of this State and this
7 great nation, we mourn the passing of U.S. Army Sergeant
8 Kenneth Levi Ridgley, and we extend to his family our sincerest
9 condolences; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Sgt. Ridgley's life
11 and his willingness to serve our country, which led to him
12 making the ultimate sacrifice; the sheer fortitude and personal
13 courage that he demonstrated was that of a real American hero;
14 and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 presented to his family as an expression of our deepest
17 sympathy.