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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to  
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learn of the death of
Illinois Army National Guard Staff 
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Sergeant Joshua Melton of Germantown, who was killed in action 
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in Kandahar, Afghanistan on June 19, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton was born on October 8, 1982 in 
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Breese to Michael Melton and Debbie Rodgers; he married Larissa 
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Melton on July 22, 2006 at St. Boniface Church in Germantown; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton was a member of the Headquarters 
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and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry of the 
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Illinois Army National Guard based in Marion; after enlisting 
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in the Illinois Army National Guard in November of 2000, his 
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first deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 
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December 2004 to March 2006; he was then deployed to 
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Afghanistan, where he remained until his passing; and

 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton and his military pals from 
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downstate Clinton County styled themselves "the band of 
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brothers" after the best-selling book and film of the same 
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name; and

 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton enjoyed spending time with his 
 


 






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family and friends, especially his daughter, Aubrey; he was 
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also an avid hunter and fisherman and a member of the Carlyle 
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VFW Post 3523; and
 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton was preceded in death by his 
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grandmother, Clarice Reddick; his grandfather, Jinx Warren; 
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his uncles, Dennis Melton and Tim Hitpas; and his aunt, Doris 
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Legate; and

 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton is survived by his wife, Larissa 
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Melton; his daughter, Aubrey Melton; his parents, Michael 
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Melton and Debbie Rodgers; his brother, Dustin (Lauren) Melton; 
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his father-in-law, Steve Verdeyen; his mother-in-law, Carolyn 
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(Rick) Pennington; his sister-in-law, Andrea (friend, Nate 
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Richter) Verdeyen; his grandparents, Elmer and Nadine Melton 
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and Bill Reddick; and his many aunts, uncles, cousins, and 
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friends; and
 
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    WHEREAS, SSG Joshua Melton's patriotism and courage will be 
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remembered fondly by his loving family, his fellow soldiers, 
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and the citizens of our grateful nation; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with 
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his family and friends, the passing of SSG Joshua Melton; and 
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be it further

 
 


 






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    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of SSG Joshua Melton and  
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his willingness to serve our country, which led to him making  
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the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of SSG Joshua Melton as an expression 
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of our sympathy.