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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Sergeant First Class Ronald A. "Aaron"
4Grider of Brighton, who was killed while serving his country in
5the Kunduz province of Afghanistan on September 18, 2010; and
 
6    WHEREAS, He was born on September 18, 1980; he was an Alton
7native and a 1998 graduate of Civic Memorial High School in
8Bethalto; he was assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters
9Company, United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort
10Bragg, North Carolina; and
 
11    WHEREAS, He is remembered for running track and cross
12country and also wrestling during his high school years; he is
13also remembered for having a great sense of humor; and
 
14    WHEREAS, He was airborne-qualified and served with the
15504th Parachute Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg as a grenadier,
16rifleman, and scout team leader; during this time, he attended
17and graduated from Ranger school; once he was Ranger-qualified,
18he served with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning,
19Georgia, as a rifle team leader and squad leader, where he
20deployed once to Afghanistan and three times to Iraq; in
21November of 2005, he was assigned as a special operations team
22member, United States Army Special Operations Command, where he

 

 

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1deployed an additional four times to Iraq and once to
2Afghanistan; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Ronald A. "Aaron" Grider was
4posthumously awarded his third Bronze Star Medal and the Purple
5Heart; his other awards include the Meritorious Service Medal,
6the Army Commendation Medal with Valor Device, three Army
7Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, the
8National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal
9with two Bronze Service Stars, the Iraq Campaign Medal with six
10Bronze Service Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
11and Service Medals, five Overseas Service Bars, and the
12Valorous Unit Award; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Ronald A. "Aaron" Grider is
14survived by his parents, Ronald and Ginny Grider and Rita
15Grider; his sister, Sherry; his wife, Brittany Grider; his
16daughter, Katie-Anne Grider; and his aunt, Debbie Thompson;
17therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
20his family, friends, and a grateful nation, the passing of
21Sergeant First Class Ronald A. "Aaron" Grider; and be it
22further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Sergeant First Class
2Ronald A. "Aaron" Grider and his willingness to serve his
3country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be
4it further
 
5    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
6presented to the family of Sergeant First Class Ronald A.
7"Aaron" Grider as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.