SR2306 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Staff Sergeant Christopher Alexander Wilbur of Fort Carson, Colorado, who passed away on August 12, 2016 in Kandahar, Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Wilbur was born in Granite City on February 26, 1980; he graduated from Granite City High School in 1998 and married Lindsey Angele Bishop in Clarksville, Tennessee on October 30, 2009; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Wilbur joined the United States Army on June 8, 2005; he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, in Fort Carson, Colorado; he was deployed to Iraq from December 9, 2005 to December 11, 2006, and September 23, 2007 to November 20, 2008; he was deployed to Afghanistan from January 30, 2010 to February 6, 2011 and February 2016 to August 12, 2016; his military occupational specialty was indirect fire infantryman and member of the mortar squad; he was awarded four Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, four Army Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, two Afghanistan Campaign Medals with Campaign Star, an Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, three Overseas Ribbons, a NATO Medal, a Drill Sergeant Identification Badge, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and an Air Assault Badge; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Wilbur was a history buff and an avid reader; he loved the outdoors and cherished days camping, hiking, rock climbing, and snowboarding; he enjoyed playing chess, watching baseball, and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Wilbur was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ronald and Gladys Wilbur; his stepfather, Steve; and his uncle, Robin Wilbur; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. Wilbur is survived by his wife, Lindsey; his children, Alexander Wilbur, and Susanna Happy Wilbur; his father and stepmother, Richard and Phyliss Wilbur; his mother, Peggy (Bischoff) King; his sister and brother-in-law, Rachael and Dan VanTassell; his brother, Matthew George; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Susan and Wayne Yarrow; other extended family, brothers-in-arms, and many friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Staff Sergeant Christopher Alexander Wilbur, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Staff Sgt. Wilbur as an expression of our deepest sympathy.