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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, Thousands of boaters have gone to Lake Michigan
3 from Illinois for recreation, research, and commerce on an
4 annual basis for hundreds of years; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Lake Michigan has a reputation as a very dangerous
6 body of water; for those who have had to call a mayday, the
7 United States Coast Guard has answered with assistance; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Chicago is
9 responsible for executing the Coast Guard's Port Safety and
10 Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial
11 Vessel Safety missions under the auspices of the Department of
12 Homeland Security; and
 
13     WHEREAS, These missions serve as the underpinnings of the
14 Coast Guard's mission to ensure a safe, secure, and
15 environmentally sound maritime domain that continues to
16 promote recreation, as well as the free flow of commerce on
17 Southern Lake Michigan, as well as the Chicago Area Waterway
18 System and the Illinois River Watershed; and
 
19     WHEREAS, MSU Chicago serves an active network of domestic
20 and international maritime interests covering the Lake
21 Michigan shorelines of Illinois and Indiana, as well as 177

 

 

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1 miles of the Illinois River System segmented by 7 locks and
2 over 250 bridges; and
 
3     WHEREAS, The motto of the Marine Safety Unit Chicago is
4 "Guardians of the Great Lakes"; and
 
5     WHEREAS, The Marine Safety Unit dispatched Petty Officer
6 Justin Duggan and his crew out of Calumet Harbor to respond to
7 a mayday distress call from a civilian fishing vessel that was
8 taking on water; and
 
9     WHEREAS, The Marine Safety Unit was the first to arrive,
10 saving pilot Kevin Nicholson, his passengers, and the vessel;
11 the crew conducted themselves with professionalism, upholding
12 the highest traditions for the United States Armed Forces and
13 the United States Coast Guard; therefore, be it
 
14     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
15 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
16 honor Petty Officer Justin Dugan and the crew of the United
17 States Coast Guard vessel that responded to the distress call
18 as models of professionalism for our public safety officers and
19 emergency first responders; and be it further
 
20     RESOLVED, That we commend the Commander of the Marine
21 Safety Unit Chicago for the professionalism and training of his

 

 

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1 sailors, as was evident in the rescue mission conducted to save
2 Kevin Nicholson, his passengers, and the vessel; and be it
3 further
 
4     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
5 presented to the Commander of the Marine Safety Unit Chicago,
6 the Secretary of the United States Coast Guard, and USCG Petty
7 Officer Justin Duggan and his crew.