Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0296

HR0296 LRB104 13352 ECR 25653 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to commend Fire Captain Justin Moffitt and firefighters Tyler Brackett and Nick Morrissey for their heroic conduct in saving the life of a Galesburg woman; and

WHEREAS, The Galesburg Fire Department was established in 1858; currently led by Chief Randy Hovind, it has 45 personnel operating out of three stations; with advanced skills and training, these workers proudly provide professional and compassionate medical and fire services to their citizens with quick thinking, intelligence, and dependability; and

WHEREAS, On the morning of August 15, 2024, there was a structure fire at 243 Highland Avenue in Galesburg; enroute, dispatch radioed that it was believed a person was zip-tied in the basement of the burning building; upon arrival, smoke was seen escaping from the first floor; the first in crew, consisting of Captain Justin Moffitt and firefighters Nick Morrissey and Tyler Brackett, without delay or protection from a handline, made entry into the rear of the residence with near zero visibility; they found the basement stairs, reached the victim, quickly freed her, exited the structure, and placed her with awaiting medics; and

WHEREAS, Firefighter Tyler Brackett has a wife, Hely, and a five-year-old daughter, Laikynn, and has been with the Galesburg Fire Department for two years; Firefighter Nick Morrissey has been with the Galesburg Fire Department for three years; Captain Justin Moffitt, the son of retired Illinois Representative Donald Moffitt, has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for 15 years, and they have five children, John, 13, Caroline, 11, Anna, 9, James, 5, and Rosalyn, 6 months; Captain Moffitt has served with the Galesburg Fire Department for 23 years; and

WHEREAS, For their brave service, Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind nominated these men for the Firefighter Excellence Award, and the Illinois State Fire Marshall selected them for the award; and

WHEREAS, The 32nd Annual Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony and the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service will take place on May 13, 2025 at 10 a.m. with the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony to be held at the site of the Firefighter Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol; following the memorial ceremony, the Firefighting Medal of Honor Committee will host the 32nd Annual Firefighting Medal of Honor Awards Ceremony at the Bank of Springfield Center; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Fire Captain Justin Moffitt and firefighters Tyler Brackett and Nick Morrissey on being selected for the Firefighter Excellence Award for their brave and calculated actions that saved a life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Captain Justin Moffitt, Firefighters Tyler Bracket and Nick Morrissey, and Fire Chief Randy Hovind of the Galesburg Fire Department as an expression of our respect and esteem.