HJ0006 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0006 LRB099 05823 GRL 25867 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is important to recognize those who contributed to the betterment of the State of Illinois through public service; and

WHEREAS, James Allen was born on December 28, 1960; his parents were Ken and Judy Allen; and

WHEREAS, James Allen's parents were both public servants; his father served as an Illinois State Trooper for 6 years and as a Volunteer Firefighter in Morris for 27 years; his mother served as a Health Technician for Grundy and Will Counties for 24 years; and

WHEREAS, James Allen was raised and educated in Morris School District 54 and spent many days at the firehouse with his father; as a young adult, he took a position with the City of Morris Public Works Department; and

WHEREAS, James Allen became a Morris Volunteer Firefighter at the age of 21, which at that time was the youngest age allowed to join the fire department; and

WHEREAS, To be a member of the Fire Department in Morris is a greatly desired and very noble status to achieve; the Morris Fire Department is highly respected in the fire service and James Allen knew that being a member required honor and sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, James Allen married Donna Brown; together, they had a son, Kenneth James Allen; and

WHEREAS, On March 18, 1985, James Allen responded with his fellow firefighters to a reported house fire on West Southmor Road in Morris; he and 2 other firefighters advanced a hose line down into the basement to the seat of the fire; and

WHEREAS, The second fire company was in the process of cutting a ventilation hole on the first floor when a back draft occurred in the basement; 2 of the firefighters were able to make it to the exit; however, James Allen did not emerge with the other firefighters; and

WHEREAS, Several attempts were made to re-enter the basement with additional hose lines in an attempt to rescue James Allen, which were unfortunately unsuccessful; and

WHEREAS, James Allen's son, Kenneth James Allen, was 3 years old when his father gave his life in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, A life-like statue of James Allen stands in a local park dedicated to his memory; the name of the donor has never been made public; and

WHEREAS, The base of the statue is inscribed "James Allen Embodied the Essence of America's Volunteer Spirit ... The Volunteer Fireman ... A Morris Volunteer Fireman ... Totally Committed ... A Man of Self-Sacrifice and Courage ... A Bearer of Noble Spirit ... A Premier Public Servant ... Killed in The Line of Duty Fighting a Fire March 18, 1985 at age 24"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of Illinois Route 47 over the CSX Railway in Morris between High Street and Benton Street as the Firefighter James Allen Memorial Highway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name of the Firefighter James Allen Memorial Highway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Firefighter James Allen, the Morris Fire Protection and Ambulance District, the Mayor of the City of Morris, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.