HR1065 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1065 LRB094 20005 HSS 57480 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death in Afghanistan of Staff Sergeant Edwin Herbert DazaChacón, formerly of Belleville, on February 13, 2006; and

WHEREAS, He was born on July 4, 1967, in Bogatá, Columbia; he graduated from Miami Sunset High School in Miami, Florida, in 1986; he served two separate enlistments in the U.S. Army; at the time of his death, he had the rank of Staff Sergeant and was the NCOIC of SOT-A Team 708, HSC, 3rd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (A) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, During his first enlistment, starting in 1990, he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, deploying to Iraq for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm; he was subsequently assigned to the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force in Vincenza, Italy, and participated in deployments to Egypt, Rwanda/Uganda/Zaire, Bosnia, and Liberia; and

WHEREAS, After completing his initial enlistment in 1997, Staff Sergeant DazaChacón left active military service and relocated to Belleville; while in Belleville, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves as he completed his Bachelor of Science in instructional design and workforce education at the University of Southern Illinois; during this time, he was employed as the Manager of Fleet Operations for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis, Missouri; due to his patriotism and undeniable calling to serve, Staff Sergeant DazaChacón returned to active duty to serve his country following the events of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, His military awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the Senior Parachutist Wings; he was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Staff Sergeant Edwin Herbert DazaChacón has been deeply felt by many, especially his mother, Smila Chacón Valencia; and his sisters, Monique F. Daza Chacón and Jessica A. Daza Chacón; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Staff Sergeant Edwin H. DazaChacón, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Staff Sergeant DazaChacón and his willingness to serve our country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest condolences.