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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Washington Fire
4Chief Michael R. Vaughn on the occasion of being awarded the
5Medal of Valor Award from the Office of the Illinois State Fire
6Marshal; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Medal of Valor award is given by the State of
8Illinois to a firefighter for an act of heroism or bravery that
9clearly demonstrated courage and dedication in the face of
10danger while in the performance of duty; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Michael Vaughn's fire service career spans over 30
12years beginning in 1982, when he became a member of the
13Washington Rescue Squad; and
 
14    WHEREAS, In 1984, Michael Vaughn entered service for the
15East Peoria Fire Department, serving as a Lieutenant, Assistant
16Chief, and then Fire Chief for East Peoria for 3 years; and
 
17    WHEREAS, On August 1, 2008, Michael Vaughn returned to the
18City of Washington to serve as the city's first full-time Fire
19Chief; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The firefighters of the Washington Fire

 

 

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1Department recommended that Michael Vaughn be honored for the
2bravery and heroism he demonstrated on the morning of November
317, 2013, when the town of Washington, alongside other central
4Illinois communities, was struck by an EF4 tornado; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Earlier that morning, before the tornado's
6arrival, Michael Vaughn was already preparing for the worst,
7messaging his firefighters to be on the alert and ready to
8respond; and
 
9    WHEREAS, As the storm entered his city, Michael Vaughn,
10husband to Theresa Vaughn and father of three boys, left his
11home and raced towards the path of the tornado in a vehicle
12with lights and sirens to alert his community of the coming
13danger, including the occupants of Washington Middle school,
14the members of the Connect Church holding service there, and
15the congregation of the Crossroads Church; and
 
16    WHEREAS, During Michael Vaughn's efforts to alert his
17community, he placed himself in great peril within the reach of
18the tornado's destructive winds, narrowly escaping with his
19life; and
 
20    WHEREAS, It is not possible to determine the lives saved by
21Michael Vaughn's selfless actions on the day of November 17,
222013, but he will remain a hero to the citizens of the City of

 

 

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1Washington, with or without an honor; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4we commend Chief Michael R. Vaughn for his heroic actions,
5thank him for his service, and congratulate him on receiving
6the Medal of Valor; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to Michael Vaughn as a symbol of our respect and
9esteem.