HR0910

LRB093 22062 HSS 50558 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives wish to congratulate and thank Lt. Colonel 
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Cecial L. Tates on completing his tour of combat duty in Iraq; 
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and
 

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    WHEREAS, Cecial L. Tates, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. 
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Army Reserves serving with the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade, 
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first started serving his country in uniform in August 1967 
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with the U.S. Army; he served in the Illinois National Guard 
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from 1975 to 1988, when he went on to serve in the U.S. Army 
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Reserve; and
 

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    WHEREAS, In 1996, Lt. Col. Tates served in Operation Joint 
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Endeavor in Bosnia-Herzegovina where he was awarded the NATO 
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Medal and the United Nations Medal; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Tates has received numerous awards and 
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medals, including the Illinois Army National Guard Medal of 
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Valor, several Army Commendations Medals, several Army 
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Achievement Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the 
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Armed Forces Medal, and many others; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Tates once again answered his country's 
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call to duty in February 2003 when his unit was called to Iraq; 
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for his outstanding service in Iraq, Lt. Col. Tates was awarded 
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the Bronze Star, one of the highest and most prestigious medals 
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given out to members of the U.S. Army with a "V" indicating the 
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medal was awarded for acts of combat heroism and valor; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Tates is a respected leader of the Sauk 
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Village community, serving on many boards and committees, 
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including serving on the school board of Community Consolidated 
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Schools District 168 as Vice-President; and
 

 


 






HR0910
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LRB093 22062 HSS 50558 r




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    WHEREAS, The people of Illinois understand the dangers that 
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Lt. Col. Tates faced on a day to day basis in Iraq and the 
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heroism needed to lead soldiers into combat, and recognize that 
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by serving his country for more that 35 years, many times in 
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combat, Lt. Col. Tates is a true patriotic hero, and without 
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citizens like him the people of the State of Illinois and the 
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United States of America would not enjoy the freedom and 
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liberty that they do; therefore be it
 

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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Lt. Col. Tates on returning home to Sauk Village 
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safely and as a victorious hero of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and 
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be it further 
 

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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Lt. Colonel Cecial L. Tates as a token of our 
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deepest and most sincere thanks to a man who has selflessly 
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served his country and community for all of his life.