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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of United States Marine Corps Captain Thomas
4John Heitmann of Mendota, who passed away on September 19,
52011; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Captain Thomas Heitmann was born on November 23,
71983; his parents are Thomas F. and Mary Therese (Leonard)
8Heitmann; he attended Holy Cross Grade School and graduated
9from St. Bede Academy in 2002; while attending St. Bede, he was
10a top student and a well-respected athlete; and
 
11    WHEREAS, After attending St. Bede Academy, Capt. Thomas
12Heitmann attended Valley Forge Military College in Wayne,
13Pennsylvania; at Valley Forge, he was involved in the Young
14Republicans Club, the Business Club, the Officers' Christian
15Fellowship, the Catholic Fellowship, the Regimental Choir, the
16Drill Team, and Student Government; in addition to his
17financial duties as Student Government Treasurer, he
18coordinated Valley Forge's Martin Luther King Day service
19project, which aided in constructing an operational center for
20Mothers Against Violence; he made Valley Forge Military College
21history by becoming the first first-year cadet to achieve the
22rank of Cadet Second Lieutenant (2LT); as 2LT, he supervised
23the development of our nation's service academy's Prepster

 

 

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1Program and Valley Forge's Army Reserve Officer Training Corps
2Early Commissioning Program; he was also inducted into the
3Anthony Wayne Legion Guard prior to leaving Valley Forge; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Capt. Thomas Heitmann was accepted to
5Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach,
6Florida; he was the recipient of the National Naval Reserve
7Officer Training Corps Marine Option Scholarship in the fall of
82006, beating out every Midshipman in the nation for the
9prestigious award; he also received the physical fitness and
10leadership awards; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Capt. Thomas Heitmann was heavily involved in the
12performing arts; he played the role of Jesus in the Open Door
13Stage Company's performance of "Godspell"; he also performed at
14Carnegie Hall in New York with the Regimental Choir; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Capt. Thomas Heitmann was commissioned as an
16officer in the United States Marine Corps in 2008; after
17completing his training at the Naval Air Stations in Corpus
18Christi, Texas, and Pensacola, Florida, he continued to be
19recognized for his academic abilities and leadership
20qualities; in 2011, he earned his wings and was assigned to fly
21the AH-1W Cobra attack helicopter at Camp Pendleton in
22California; he was assigned to Training Squadron 303, Marine
23Aircraft Group 39 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at Air

 

 

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1Station Miramar in San Diego, California at the time of his
2passing; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Capt. Thomas Heitmann was preceded in death by his
4maternal grandmother; his maternal step-grandmother; his
5paternal grandfather; and his paternal step-grandfather; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Capt. Thomas Heitmann is survived by his parents,
7Tom and Mary Therese (Leonard) Heitmann; his brother, Aaron
8Heitmann; his sisters, Rachel (Dave) Christensen, Hannah
9(Matt) Pozzi, Sarah (Abe) Henkel, and Mary Elizabeth Heitmann;
10his paternal grandmother, Eleanore Sjostrom; his maternal
11grandfather, James Leonard; his nieces, Ella and Nora Henkel;
12his nephews, Terrapin and Xavier Christensen; and his many
13aunts and uncles; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Capt. Thomas Heitmann's patriotism and courage
15will be remembered fondly by his loving family, his fellow
16soldiers, and the citizens of our grateful nation; therefore,
17be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
19ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
20his family and friends, the passing of United States Marine
21Corps Captain Thomas John Heitmann; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to the family of Capt. Thomas Heitmann as an
3expression of our sympathy.