HR1054

LRB096 21750 GRL 39515 r






1

HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3
Representatives are saddened by the death of United States 
4
Marine Corps Captain Matthew Charles Hays Freeman of Richmond 
5
Hill, Georgia, who gave his life for his country in Kapisa 
6
Province, Afghanistan on August 7, 2009; and

 
7
    WHEREAS, Captain Matthew Freeman was born on January 19, 
8
1980 in Lake Forest; after graduating from the U.S. Naval 
9
Academy in 2002, he was commissioned as an officer with the 
10
United States Marine Corps as a pilot; he was assigned to 
11
Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Third 
12
Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan; he then 
13
volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan with ETT 4-5, 3rd 
14
Brigade 201st, RCAC-C Fwd, where he helped train the Afghan 
15
military on the ground while performing supporting combat 
16
operations; and

 
17
    WHEREAS, During one such combat operation, Captain Matthew 
18
Freeman was on a rooftop directing close-air support when he 
19
was tragically killed; he was posthumously awarded the Purple 
20
Heart and the Bronze Star for his valor and service to our 
21
nation; and

 
22
    WHEREAS, Captain Matthew Freeman is survived by his father, 
 


 






HR1054
- 2 -
LRB096 21750 GRL 39515 r




1
Mark Hays, and his stepmother, Paula Hays; his mother, Lisa 
2
Freeman, and his stepfather, Gary Freeman; his wife, Theresa 
3
Hess Freeman, who currently serves as an Air Force flight 
4
surgeon in Okinawa, Japan; and his two sisters and one brother; 
5
and

 
6
    WHEREAS, Captain Matthew Freeman's patriotism and courage 
7
will be remembered fondly by his loving family, his fellow 
8
soldiers, and the citizens of our grateful nation; therefore, 
9
be it

 
10
    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
11
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
12
mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of United 
13
States Marine Corps Captain Matthew Charles Hays Freeman; and 
14
be it further

 
15
    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Captain Matthew 
16
Freeman and  his willingness to serve our country, which led to 
17
him making  the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
18
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19
presented to the family of Captain Matthew Freeman as an 
20
expression of our sympathy.