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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of U.S. Army Specialist Karen Clifton, who
4 was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq on June 21, 2007; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton was born May 10, 1985 in
6 Decatur; her parents are Doug V. Clifton and Chris (Maurer)
7 Hancock; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton attended school in Mount Zion
9 through her junior year and was active in the Mt. Zion Police
10 Department Explorer's Program; she moved to Florida in her
11 senior year, where she completed high school in 2003; and
 
12     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton returned to Illinois after
13 graduation and enlisted in the U.S. Army, to begin a career
14 with the Military Police; she was currently serving her country
15 in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and obtained the
16 rank of Specialist in the 544th MP CO, Forward Platoon, 630th
17 MP CO, 759th MP Battalion of the 89th MP Brigade; she was
18 scheduled to complete her one-year tour of duty in Iraq in June
19 2007, but had her tour of duty extended until October 2007; and
 
20     WHEREAS, In recognition of her incredible bravery, Spc.
21 Karen Clifton was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal

 

 

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1 and was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Combat
2 Action Badge, and the Army Good Conduct Medal; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton was an avid Indy car racing fan
4 who hoped to see the day a woman would win a big race; she also
5 loved to shop and eat out, especially at the El Matador and Red
6 Lobster restaurants when she returned home on leave; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton was preceded in death by her
8 niece; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton is survived by her father; her
10 mother, Chris Hancock; her sisters, Cindy (Blake) Blackston and
11 Katie Maple; her stepsister, Heather Maple; her stepbrother,
12 Sean Maple; her grandparents, Vernon and Carol Clifton and
13 Sheila and Richard Cairns; her grandfather, Lee Maurer; her
14 nephew, Corbin Davis, her niece, Allysa Davis, and many aunts,
15 uncles, and cousins who loved her very much; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton's dedication to her country
17 serves as an inspiration to the people of the State of Illinois
18 and our nation; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
20 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
21 her family and friends, the passing of U.S. Army Specialist

 

 

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1 Karen Clifton; and be it further
 
2     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Specialist Karen
3 Clifton and her willingness to serve our country, which led to
4 her making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6 presented to the family of U.S. Army Specialist Karen Clifton
7 as an expression of our sympathy.