SR1782 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1782 LRB100 22185 MST 40697 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On May 2, 2018, a WC-130 Hercules cargo plane traveling from Savannah, Georgia to Tucson, Arizona crashed shortly after takeoff killing all nine service members on board; and

WHEREAS, The nine service members were part of the 156th Airlift Wing, which is home to the "Bucaneros" and had nearly 170 years of combined service experience; and

WHEREAS, The plane, attached to the Puerto Rico Air National Guard 156th Airlift Wing, was being decommissioned after more than 40 years of use; and

WHEREAS, As part of Puerto Rico's Air National Guard fleet, the plane could be outfitted for transport, reconnaissance, search and rescue, research, refueling, patrol, or as a gunship; and

WHEREAS, During the 2017 hurricane season, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard used the aircraft to rescue Americans from the British Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma; later, it supplied much needed food and water to Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria; and

WHEREAS, The roles of the nine airmen who perished were essential during each mission in which they participated, including the 2017 hurricane recovery rescue and resupply efforts; and

WHEREAS, Major Jose R. Roman Rosado, the pilot, had 18 years of service; he is survived by his wife and two sons; and

WHEREAS, Major Carlos Perez Serra, the aircraft navigator, had 23 years of service; he is survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter; and

WHEREAS, First Lieutenant David Albandoz, the co-pilot, had 16 years of service; he is survived by his wife and daughter; and

WHEREAS, Senior Master Sergeant Jan Paravisini, an aircraft mechanic with 21 years of service, is survived by two daughters and a son; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Jean Audriffred, an airman with 16 years of service, is survived by his wife and two sons; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Mario Brana, the flight engineer, had 17 years of service; he is survived by his mother and daughter; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Victor Colon, an airman with 22 years of service, is survived by his wife and two daughters; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Eric Circuns, a loadmaster with 31 years of services, is survived by his wife, two stepdaughters, and a son; and

WHEREAS, Senior Airman Roberto Espada had three years of service; he is survived by his grandmother; and

WHEREAS, The crash with nine fatalities brings the total number of noncombat-related wrecks of military aircraft to seven so far this year, resulting in 27 United States service member deaths; and

WHEREAS, Honoring the courageous men and women who serve in uniform is of the highest priority for the Illinois Senate; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the lives and the memory of the nine Puerto Rican service members killed in the noncombat-related military plane crash in Savannah, Georgia; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the fallen airmen; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the families of the nine Puerto Rican service members.