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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Washington Fire 
4Chief Michael R. Vaughn on the occasion of being awarded the 
5Medal of Valor Award from the Office of the Illinois State Fire 
6Marshal; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, The Medal of Valor award is given by the State of 
8Illinois to a firefighter for an act of heroism or bravery that 
9clearly demonstrated courage and dedication in the face of 
10danger while in the performance of duty; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Michael Vaughn's fire service career spans over 30 
12years beginning in 1982, when he became a member of the 
13Washington Rescue Squad; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, In 1984, Michael Vaughn entered service for the 
15East Peoria Fire Department, serving as a Lieutenant, Assistant 
16Chief, and then Fire Chief for East Peoria for 3 years; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, On August 1, 2008, Michael Vaughn returned to the 
18City of Washington to serve as the city's first full-time Fire 
19Chief; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The firefighters of the Washington Fire 
 
 
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1Department recommended that Michael Vaughn be honored for the 
2bravery and heroism he demonstrated on the morning of November 
317, 2013, when the town of Washington, alongside other central 
4Illinois communities, was struck by an EF4 tornado; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Earlier that morning, before the tornado's 
6arrival, Michael Vaughn was already preparing for the worst, 
7messaging his firefighters to be on the alert and ready to 
8respond; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, As the storm entered his city, Michael Vaughn, 
10husband to Theresa Vaughn and father of three boys, left his 
11home and raced towards the path of the tornado in a vehicle 
12with lights and sirens to alert his community of the coming 
13danger, including the occupants of Washington Middle school, 
14the members of the Connect Church holding service there, and 
15the congregation of the Crossroads Church; and
 
16    WHEREAS, During Michael Vaughn's efforts to alert his 
17community, he placed himself in great peril within the reach of 
18the tornado's destructive winds, narrowly escaping with his 
19life; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, It is not possible to determine the lives saved by 
21Michael Vaughn's selfless actions on the day of November 17, 
222013, but he will remain a hero to the citizens of the City of 
 
 
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1Washington, with or without an honor; therefore, be it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
3NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
4we commend Chief Michael R. Vaughn for his heroic actions, 
5thank him for his service, and congratulate him on receiving 
6the Medal of Valor; and be it further
  
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
8presented to Michael Vaughn as a symbol of our respect and 
9esteem.