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| 1 | HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, It is appropriate to remember the many sacrifices | ||||||
| 3 | and contributions to the cause of freedom made by the | ||||||
| 4 | outstanding men and women who served in the United States | ||||||
| 5 | Armed Forces; and
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| 6 | WHEREAS, The freedom we enjoy in the United States of | ||||||
| 7 | America and the State of Illinois is owed to those who made the | ||||||
| 8 | ultimate sacrifice for our nation and State; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, Cpl. Tommy Neal Miller was born on July 19, 1949 | ||||||
| 10 | and was raised in Meadowbrook near Bethalto in Madison County; | ||||||
| 11 | and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, Cpl. Miller enlisted in the United States Marine | ||||||
| 13 | Corps and served during the Vietnam War; he began his tour of | ||||||
| 14 | duty on June 10, 1968; his military specialty was mortarman, | ||||||
| 15 | and he was attached to Echo Company, Second Battalion, Fourth | ||||||
| 16 | Marines, Third Marine Division; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, While serving as a radio operator on the morning | ||||||
| 18 | of February 25, 1969 at Fire Support Base
Russell in Quang Tri | ||||||
| 19 | Province in South Vietnam, under assault by a large North | ||||||
| 20 | Vietnamese Army sappers unit,
Cpl. Miller unhesitatingly | ||||||
| 21 | maneuvered across the fire-swept terrain in search of an | ||||||
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| 1 | undamaged
radio; after locating operable equipment, he again | ||||||
| 2 | exposed himself to hostile fire to assist the
commanding | ||||||
| 3 | officer with restoring communications; he then went to the aid | ||||||
| 4 | of his
fellow Marines to free them from entrapment in debris; | ||||||
| 5 | as he attempted to free his comrades, he was
mortally wounded | ||||||
| 6 | by fragments from an enemy grenade; and | ||||||
| 7 | WHEREAS, Cpl. Miller's heroic and timely actions inspired | ||||||
| 8 | all who observed him and contributed
greatly to repelling the | ||||||
| 9 | enemy's assault; and | ||||||
| 10 | WHEREAS, Cpl. Miller's commendations include the Bronze | ||||||
| 11 | Star Medal with Combat "V", the Purple Heart, the Combat | ||||||
| 12 | Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam | ||||||
| 13 | Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Marine Corps | ||||||
| 14 | Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, the | ||||||
| 15 | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, and the Marine Corps | ||||||
| 16 | Expeditionary Medal; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, Cpl. Miller is honored on the Vietnam Veterans | ||||||
| 18 | Memorial in Washington, DC; his name is inscribed at VVM Wall, | ||||||
| 19 | Panel 31w, Line 53; and
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| 20 | WHEREAS, Like so many who gave the ultimate sacrifice and | ||||||
| 21 | gave up many years of their lives, Cpl. Miller will forever be | ||||||
| 22 | 19; and
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| 1 | WHEREAS, Cpl. Miller is loved and missed by his family, | ||||||
| 2 | friends, and Marine brothers; therefore, be it
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| 3 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 4 | HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | ||||||
| 5 | SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 140 | ||||||
| 6 | as it travels through Meadowbrook as the "Cpl. Tommy N. Miller | ||||||
| 7 | Memorial Highway"; and be it further | ||||||
| 8 | RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation | ||||||
| 9 | is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with | ||||||
| 10 | State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs | ||||||
| 11 | giving notice of the name "Cpl. Tommy N. Miller Memorial | ||||||
| 12 | Highway"; and be it further
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| 13 | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | ||||||
| 14 | presented to the family of Cpl. Miller and the Secretary of the | ||||||
| 15 | Illinois Department of Transportation.
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