SJ0054 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0054 LRB101 16646 MST 66033 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and

WHEREAS, Daniel Lee Kick was born on January 26, 1948 and grew up in Riverton; he attended Riverton Grade School and graduated from Riverton High School in 1966; and

WHEREAS, After graduating high school, Daniel Lee Kick enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to South Vietnam on September 25, 1967; and

WHEREAS, PFC Kick served with the 1st Marine Division, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, H&S Company; and

WHEREAS, From February 13 through February 23, 1968, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines were engaged with heavily-armed and well-entrenched North Vietnamese Army forces as part of the Tet Offensive in the city of Hue, South Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, For six consecutive days during the fighting, PFC Kick continuously risked his life by performing medevac and resupply missions for his embattled unit in the face of small arms fire, automatic weapons, and rocket fire; his actions were undoubtedly directly influential in saving the lives of many of his fellow Marines; and

WHEREAS, While on a medevac run on the evening of February 16, 1968, PFC Kick's vehicle was ambushed by the enemy, and he was mortally wounded; and

WHEREAS, PFC Kick was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal; he was also awarded the Vietnamese Military Merit Medal and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm from the South Vietnam Government; his name can be found on Panel 40E Line 7 of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that the IL Route 54 bridge crossing the Sangamon River near Riverton shall be designated as the "PFC Daniel Lee Kick Memorial Bridge"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "PFC Daniel Lee Kick Memorial Bridge"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of PFC Kick, the Mayor of Riverton, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.