SR0191

LRB096 12230 GRL 24872 r






1

SENATE RESOLUTION


 
2
    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
3
learn of the death of
United States Army Staff Sergeant Jeremy 
4
E. Bessa, who was killed in action in Khordi, Afghanistan on 
5
February 20, 2009, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; 
6
and

 
7
    WHEREAS, SSG Jeremy Bessa was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on 
8
May 11, 1982; he lived in Woodridge for two years during his 
9
junior and senior years of high school at Downers Grove South; 
10
and

 
11
    WHEREAS, SSG Jeremy Bessa volunteered for military service 
12
in April of 2002, following the terrorist attacks on September 
13
11, 2001; after earning the coveted "Green Beret" in March of 
14
2007, he was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group at Fort 
15
Bragg, North Carolina as a Special Forces Communications 
16
Sergeant; he was deployed to Afghanistan in January of 2009, 
17
his third deployment in support of the Global War on Terror and 
18
his second deployment to Afghanistan; and

 
19
    WHEREAS, SSG Jeremy Bessa was posthumously awarded the 
20
Meritorious Service Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Bronze 
21
Star in honor of his courage and dedication to his country; and

 
 


 






SR0191
- 2 -
LRB096 12230 GRL 24872 r




1
    WHEREAS, SSG Jeremy Bessa is survived by his wife, Lindsey 
2
Melton Bessa; his son, Carson; his parents, Ted and Julie 
3
Bessa; his brothers, Christopher and Joel Bessa; and his 
4
sister, Bryana Bessa; and

 
5
    WHEREAS, SSG Jeremy Bessa's patriotism and courage will be 
6
remembered fondly by his loving family, his fellow soldiers, 
7
and the citizens of our grateful nation; therefore, be it

 
8
    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
9
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
10
his family and friends, the passing of United States Army Staff 
11
Sergeant Jeremy E. Bessa; and be it further

 
12
    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Staff Sergeant Jeremy 
13
Bessa and  his willingness to serve our country, which led to 
14
him making  the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
15
    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
16
presented to the family of Staff Sergeant Jeremy Bessa as an 
17
expression of our sympathy.