SR0077 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0077 LRB102 16524 MST 21918 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of CW3 Dallas G. Garza, who passed away November 12, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Garza was born in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to David and Belinda on September 19, 1986 and grew up in Janesville, Wisconsin with his mother and two siblings; moving to Fayetteville, North Carolina to live with his father and his wife, David Garza Jr. and Maria De Jesus Garza, and two siblings, he attended and graduated from Seventy-First Senior High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2005; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Garza followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the U.S. Army; his first duty station was in Fort Bragg as a helicopter crew chief, where he was able to complete his first airborne jump alongside his father during his father's last airborne jump in the Army; his 2nd assignment was in Hawaii at Wheeler and Schofield; he then began to pursue becoming a Black Hawk pilot and was assigned to Fort Rucker in 2010; when he graduated from Warrant Officer School, he was presented with numerous awards; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Garza's first duty station as a pilot was in Texas at Fort Hood, where he excelled and became a pilot in command and then an instructor; he returned to Hawaii, where he progressed further to a senior instructor pilot and instrument examiner; at the time of his death, he was serving as part of a multinational peacekeeping mission in Egypt; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Garza knew how to live life to the fullest as a father, son, brother, and friend; he would wear flamingos with pride, singing his heart out in karaoke, and dress up every chance he could, including dressing up as the hero Superman, which is how he will be remembered by many; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Garza was preceded in death by a few beloved family members and many of his fellow soldiers and aviators; and

WHEREAS, Dallas Garza is survived by his children, Viviana, Isabella, and Christopher Garza; his parents, David Garza Jr., Maria De Jesus Garza, and Belinda Swinney; his brothers, David D. Garza and Tommy Long; his sisters, Jesica Garza, Aurora Long, and Sylvia Long; and his fellow brother and sister soldiers and aviators; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of CW3 Dallas G. Garza and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Dallas Garza as an expression of our deepest sympathy.