HR0292 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0292 LRB094 11850 HSS 44220 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Stephen L. Welsh, formerly of Liberty, is retiring after 20 years of service in the U.S. Navy on April 29, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born on July 4, 1964, in Quincy to Leon and Mary Lou (Campbell) Welsh, raised on a farm near Liberty, and attended Liberty High School; he married Dionne Kristine Welsh on March 18, 2000, in Virginia Beach, Virginia; they were blessed with their first child, Cora Elizabeth, on April 24, 2003; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Welsh enlisted as a seaman on April 24, 1985; throughout the years, he has served at Great Lakes, Illinois; San Diego, California; Sigonella Sicily; Norfolk, Virginia; and most recently at Hampton Roads; he served on the USS Copeland, the USS Kidd, and the USS Vella Gulf; he is retiring as an Information Systems Technician first class, specializing in surface warfare; one of his most proud moments in the military was when he made first class the week before he was married; he was also proud when he was awarded his ESWS pin; and

WHEREAS, His battle group was set to deploy for six months on September 19, 2001, but they immediately left on September 11, 2001, to provide air defense to the USS George Washington on the coast of New York; the ship returned a few days later and had a week to prepare for deployment; and

WHEREAS, His family and friends are extremely proud of him and his service as part of Operation Enduring Freedom; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Stephen L. Welsh on the occasion of his retirement from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service, and we thank him for his willingness to proudly serve our country; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Welsh as an expression of our sincerest respect and esteem and our best wishes for the future.