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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of USMC 
4Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda of Marine, who passed away on March 
518, 2013; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda graduated from 
7Highland High School in 2005; during high school, he played 
8football and was involved in the school's annual madrigal 
9dinner; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, After high school, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda 
11attended St. Xavier University in Chicago for a year and then 
12enrolled in and graduated from the L'Ecole Culinaire School in 
13St. Louis, Missouri; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Being an avid traveler, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda 
15felt a calling to explore the world by becoming a Marine in 
162008; while at Camp Lejeune, he developed a passion for 
17sailing, bought a two-person sailboat, and often took friends 
18out on a bay near the base; and
  
 
19    WHEREAS, While enlisted in the Marine Corps, Corporal Aaron 
20J. Ripperda traveled to several countries, including Haiti to 
21help with recovery efforts after the 2010 earthquake, and 
 
 
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1Afghanistan; in April of 2011, he was promoted to the rank of 
2corporal; among his numerous honors were a Navy Unit 
3Commendation and a Humanitarian Service Medal; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda was one of seven 
5members of the Second Marine Division whose lives was lost on 
6March 18, 2013, in an explosion during training at the 
7Hawthorne Army Depot in western Nevada; he was the most senior 
8of those lost on that day, both in age and rank; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda is survived by his 
10father, Kent (Colleen) Ripperda; his mother, Tina (Jeff) 
11Sutton; his sister, Kendall (significant other, Charlie Swaim) 
12Ripperda; his paternal grandmother, Rita Ripperda; his 
13maternal grandfather, Ronald (Jackie) Lesicko; his special 
14friend, Jessica Iskrzycki; his aunts and uncles, Kurt (Lynn) 
15Ripperda, Cara (significant other, John Zerkle) Tomasek, 
16William (Beverly) Lesicko, Patrick (Julie) Lesicko; and his 
17many cousins; therefore, be it
  
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
19NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
20we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of 
21Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda; and be it further
  
 
22    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Corporal Aaron J. 
 
 
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1Ripperda and his patriotism and willingness to serve his 
2country, which led him to making the ultimate sacrifice; and be 
3it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
5presented to the family of Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda as a 
6symbol of our sincere sympathy.