HJ0070 LRB096 14255 GRL 29053 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives and the Illinois Senate are saddened by the
4 death of United States Marine Corps Captain Matthew Charles
5 Hays Freeman of Richmond Hill, Georgia, who gave his life for
6 his country in Kapisa Province, Afghanistan on August 7, 2009;
7 and
 
8     WHEREAS, Captain Matthew Freeman was born on January 19,
9 1980 in Lake Forest; after graduating from the U.S. Naval
10 Academy in 2002, he was commissioned as an officer with the
11 United States Marine Corps as a pilot; he was assigned to
12 Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Third
13 Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan; he then
14 volunteered for deployment to Afghanistan with ETT 4-5, 3rd
15 Brigade 201st, RCAC-C Fwd, where he helped train the Afghan
16 military on the ground while performing supporting combat
17 operations; and
 
18     WHEREAS, During one such combat operation, Captain Matthew
19 Freeman was on a rooftop directing close-air support when he
20 was tragically killed; he was posthumously awarded the Purple
21 Heart and the Bronze Star for his valor and service to our
22 nation; and
 

 

 

HJ0070 - 2 - LRB096 14255 GRL 29053 r

1     WHEREAS, Captain Matthew Freeman is survived by his father,
2 Mark Hays, and his stepmother, Paula Hays; his mother, Lisa
3 Freeman, and his stepfather, Gary Freeman; his wife, Theresa
4 Hess Freeman, who currently serves as an Air Force flight
5 surgeon in Okinawa, Japan; and his two sisters and one brother;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, Captain Matthew Freeman's patriotism and courage
8 will be remembered fondly by his loving family, his fellow
9 soldiers, and the citizens of our grateful nation; therefore,
10 be it
 
11     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
12 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
13 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we mourn, along with his family
14 and friends, the passing of United States Marine Corps Captain
15 Matthew Charles Hays Freeman; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Captain Matthew
17 Freeman and his willingness to serve our country, which led to
18 him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
19     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
20 presented to the family of Captain Matthew Freeman as an
21 expression of our sympathy.