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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, It is important to remember and honor those who 
3gave the ultimate sacrifice in
service to the State Of 
4Illinois; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Illinois State Police Trooper Marvin C. Archer, a 
6World War II veteran, was killed in a gunfight
on June 18, 1946 
7while attempting to apprehend two vehicle thieves at the 
8intersection of Illinois Route 45 and 9 near Paxton; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer and his partner, Vernon Harper, 
10spotted the
stolen vehicle and initiated a traffic stop; the 
11two suspects opened fire, and both officers
took cover and 
12returned fire; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer was shot and died on the scene; 
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, One of the suspects re-entered a vehicle and led 
16Illinois and Indiana state police on a pursuit; he changed 
17vehicles two more times before Illinois troopers found him 
18approximately three hours later inside a
parked vehicle near 
19Champaign; three troopers opened fire and fatally shot the 
20suspect multiple times; and
 
  
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer served two years with the Illinois 
2State Police
and then two years as a combat engineer in the 
3Pacific during World War II; he returned to his state
police 
4duties six months before his death; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, The Illinois State Police have saved countless 
6lives by protecting the citizens of Illinois
though law 
7enforcement and patrolling the roadways of our State; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Trooper Archer is an example of the dedication 
9and sacrifice of
the Illinois State Police, and it is fitting 
10we remember his sacrifice; therefore, be it
  
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
12HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
13SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of 
14Illinois Route 9 between South Washington Street and High 
15Street in Paxton as the "Trooper Marvin C. Archer Memorial 
16Road"; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation 
18is requested to erect at suitable locations,
consistent with 
19State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs 
20giving notice of the name
"Trooper Marvin C. Archer Memorial 
21Road"; and be it further
  
 
 
 
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1    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
2presented to the family of Trooper Archer and the Secretary of 
3Transportation.