HR0653

LRB094 14627 BDD 49629 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The men and women from Illinois who ably serve our 
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country as members of the United States Armed Forces are 
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entitled to our appreciation, respect, and support; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Petty Officer Alonzo Darrell Baker, of the U.S. 
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Navy, has served his country with distinction and has recently 
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suffered losses from destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Petty Officer Baker grew up in Calumet Park, 
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Illinois, and  he graduated from Harold L. Richards High School 
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in May of 1997; after graduating from high school, he joined 
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the U.S. Navy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Petty Officer Baker has served his country with 
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distinction; shortly after enlisting, he reported onboard the 
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USS Curtis Wilbur, homeported in Yokosuka, Japan;  Petty Officer 
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Baker continued his active duty tour and received his 
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Certificate of Graduation from the Navy and Marine Corps 
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Intelligence Institution;  in 2000, he reported onboard the USS 
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Kitty Hawk, America's only deployed aircraft carrier, also 
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homeported in Yokosuka, Japan;  Petty Officer Baker continued 
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his intelligence career and finished in the top of his class at 
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the Naval Special Warfare Intelligence Institution;  he has 
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received numerous letters and commendations during his 8-year 
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active duty tour, including 3 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement 
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medals; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Petty Officer Baker is currently stationed in 
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Mississippi,  and in June of 2005, he served temporary duty  in 
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Bagdad, Iraq, assisting in the current military operations in 
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that region; and

 
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    WHEREAS, While Petty Officer Baker was serving his country 
 


 






HR0653
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LRB094 14627 BDD 49629 r




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in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast of the 
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United States, including Petty Officer Baker's home in 
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Mississippi; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Upon returning from Iraq to aid in post-disaster 
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relief, Petty Officer Baker found that all of his personal 
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belongings had been destroyed by the hurricane; therefore, be 
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it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we express our appreciation, respect, and support to Petty 
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Officer Alonzo Darrell Baker and to all of the men and women of 
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the United States Armed Forces who are dedicated to the service 
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of their country; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge the citizens of Illinois to take 
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action to help restore the quality of life for Petty Officer 
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Baker and others whose lives have been devastated by the recent 
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hurricanes in the Gulf Coast; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Petty Officer Alonzo Darrell Baker as an 
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expression of our esteem.