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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death of Illinois Army National Guard Staff
4 Sergeant Joshua Melton of Germantown, who was killed in action
5 in Kandahar, Afghanistan on June 19, 2009; and
 
6     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton was born on October 8, 1982 in
7 Breese to Michael Melton and Debbie Rodgers; he married Larissa
8 Melton on July 22, 2006 at St. Boniface Church in Germantown;
9 and
 
10     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton was a member of the Headquarters
11 and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry of the
12 Illinois Army National Guard based in Marion; after enlisting
13 in the Illinois Army National Guard in November of 2000, his
14 first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from
15 December 2004 to March 2006; he was then deployed to
16 Afghanistan, where he remained until his passing; and
 
17     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton and his military pals from
18 downstate Clinton County styled themselves "the band of
19 brothers" after the best-selling book and film of the same
20 name; and
 
21     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton enjoyed spending time with his

 

 

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1 family and friends, especially his daughter, Aubrey; he was
2 also an avid hunter and fisherman and a member of the Carlyle
3 VFW Post 3523; and
 
4     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton was preceded in death by his
5 grandmother, Clarice Reddick; his grandfather, Jinx Warren;
6 his uncles, Dennis Melton and Tim Hitpas; and his aunt, Doris
7 Legate; and
 
8     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton is survived by his wife, Larissa
9 Melton; his daughter, Aubrey Melton; his parents, Michael
10 Melton and Debbie Rodgers; his brother, Dustin (Lauren) Melton;
11 his father-in-law, Steve Verdeyen; his mother-in-law, Carolyn
12 (Rick) Pennington; his sister-in-law, Andrea (friend, Nate
13 Richter) Verdeyen; his grandparents, Elmer and Nadine Melton
14 and Bill Reddick; and his many aunts, uncles, cousins, and
15 friends; and
 
16     WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton's patriotism and courage will be
17 remembered fondly by his loving family, his fellow soldiers,
18 and the citizens of our grateful nation; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
20 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
21 his family and friends, the passing of SSG Joshua Melton; and
22 be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of SSG Joshua Melton and
2 his willingness to serve our country, which led to him making
3 the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
4     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5 presented to the family of SSG Joshua Melton as an expression
6 of our sympathy.