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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
4who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the
5ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Army Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols, Jr. was killed in
7Kunar Province, Afghanistan on December 1, 2009 when his unit
8was attacked by small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades;
9and
 
10    WHEREAS, Sgt. Nichols grew up in Chrisman; he graduated
11from Georgetown-Ridge High School in 2000 and joined the United
12States Army 5 years later; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Sgt. Nichols was assigned to the 2nd Battalion,
1412th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
15Division out of Fort Carson, Colorado and was serving in
16Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Sgt. Nichols was a 4-year Army veteran; he served
18a tour in Iraq from October of 2006 to December of 2007; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Sgt. Nichols enjoyed playing pranks, riding his
20Harley-Davidson, and hanging out in a shed he built behind his

 

 

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1Colorado Springs, Colorado home; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Sgt. Nichols is survived by his wife, Lexi; his
3father, Kenneth R. Nichols, Sr.; his 4 children, Brhyleigh,
4Kenneth III, Branden, and Pailynn; and 2 sisters, Lisa and
5Cindy; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
8SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of
9Illinois Route 1 that runs from the south end of Westville to
10Georgetown as the "Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols, Jr. Memorial
11Highway"; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
13is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
14State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
15giving notice of the name "Sgt. Kenneth R. Nichols, Jr.
16Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Sgt. Nichols and the Secretary of
19the Department of Transportation.