HR0011 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0011 LRB097 05605 KXB 45667 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Staff Sergeant Justus S. Bartelt of Polo, who gave his life defending America's freedom on July 16, 2010, in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Justus S. Bartelt was born on July 4, 1983 in Dixon, to Steve Bartelt and Jeannie Kyker; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Bartelt graduated in 2001 from Polo High School and joined the United States Marine Corps in June of 2001; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Bartelt was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from March to October of 2005 and again from August of 2008 to March of 2009; he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in February of 2010; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Bartelt's awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Bartelt will be missed by his parents, Steve Bartelt and Jeannie Kyker; his sisters, Shayann, Simber, and Kellen; as well as his fellow soldiers and the citizens of a grateful nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Staff Sergeant Justus S. Bartelt; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Staff Sergeant Justus S. Bartelt and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Staff Sergeant Justus S. Bartelt as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.