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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 66

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to those who have served our
4country and, in doing so, have made the ultimate sacrifice for
5our nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Sean P. Maher was born in Elk
7Grove Village to Janet R. and Dan C. Maher on March 19, 1985;
8as a child, he was a member of Cub Scouts Pack 72 Wildwood, Boy
9Scout Troop 71 Gurnee, and St. Paul The Apostle Catholic
10Church in Gurnee, where he served as an altar boy; he enjoyed
11sports of all types and caddied for Michael Jordan and Scottie
12Pippen; he was named Athlete of the Year in 8th grade at
13Woodland Elementary School, where he has a scholarship in his
14name; he graduated Warren Township High School in 2003, and
15his football jersey has since been retired in his honor; and
 
16    WHEREAS, LCpl Maher enlisted in the United States Marines
17in August of 2003, despite having a football scholarship and a
18full ride to Southern Illinois University; he completed basic
19training in San Diego, California and was assigned to Weapons
20Company 1st Battalion 3rd Marines 31st MEU 1st Marine Division
21Kaneohe Bay Hawaii; and
 
22    WHEREAS, LCpl Maher was killed in action on February 2,

 

 

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12005 in the town of Hit, Iraq as he came under small arms fire
2while responding to a helicopter crash; he had taken another
3marine's watch that morning to let his fellow soldier sleep in
4on his birthday; and
 
5    WHEREAS, LCpl Maher was awarded numerous citations for his
6service, including the Marine Rifle Sharpshooter Badge, the
7National Defense Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps
8Achievement Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
9the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Armed
10Forces Expeditionary Medal; posthumously, he received the AIA
11Hawaii Medal of Honor, the Purple Heart, and the Navy and
12Marine Corps Achievement Medal; and
 
13    WHEREAS, LCpl Maher was named an honorary member of Lake
14Villa VFW Post 4308; therefore, be it
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
16HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
17SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate U.S. Route 45 from
18Belvidere Road (Illinois 120) in Grayslake north to Washington
19Street as the "U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Sean P. Maher
20Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
22is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with

 

 

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1State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
2giving notice of the name "U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal
3Sean P. Maher Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5presented to the family of LCpl Maher, Lake Villa VFW Post
64308, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
7Transportation.