HJ0065 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0065 LRB101 12063 MST 59767 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois are saddened by the death of Staff Sergeant Edwin Herbert DazaChacon, formerly of Belleville, on February 13, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant DazaChacon was born in Bogota, Colombia on July 4, 1967; 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 (Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge) 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, Staff Sergeant DazaChacon served in the 82nd Airborne Division and was deployed 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 DazaChacon left active military service and relocated to Belleville; while in Belleville, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and completed his Bachelor of Science in Instructional Design and Workforce Education at Southern Illinois University; 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, he returned to active duty following the events of September 11, 2001; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant DazaChacon's 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 Services Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Non-commissioned 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 DazaChacon has been deeply felt by many, especially his mother, Smila Chacon Valencia, and his sisters, Monique F. and Jessica A. DazaChacon; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of road on Illinois Route 2 from North Green Mountain Road to Shiloh Station Road as the "Staff Sergeant Edwin DazaChacon Memorial Road"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "Staff Sergeant Edwin DazaChacon Memorial Road"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Staff Sergeant DazaChacon and the Secretary of Transportation.