SR0516 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0516 LRB093 22023 HSS 50411 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were saddened to learn of the death of U.S. Army PFC Shawn C. Edwards of Bensenville on April 23, 2004 when his convoy hit a roadside bomb in Samarra, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, PFC Edwards was assigned to the U.S. Army's 121st Signal Battalion, lst Infantry Division; and

WHEREAS, PFC Edwards was born in New Mexico and moved to Bensenville with his family in 1993; and

WHEREAS, He enlisted in the U.S. Army as a junior in high school and began service after graduating from York Community High School in Elmhurst in 2002, where he was a member of the football and wrestling teams; he planned to return to college when he completed his military duty; and

WHEREAS, He discovered a passion for electronics and computers while in the U.S. Army and hoped to pursue this passion when he returned home; and

WHEREAS, PFC Edwards comes from a military family; his father served in Vietnam and his grandfather was in World War II; and

WHEREAS, PFC Edwards had previously been stationed in Kitzingen, Germany, and arrived in Iraq in early February; his task in Iraq was setting up cellular communication networks; and

WHEREAS, PFC Edwards was proud to serve his country and showed his commitment to restoring peace by volunteering for duties in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, PFC Edwards strived to be a good soldier and at the young age of 20 embodied the true spirit of a soldier, being faithful and loyal always to his family, friends, and country; and

WHEREAS, We recognize PFC Edwards for his unwavering bravery and service to his country; and

WHEREAS, The passing of U.S. Army PFC Shawn C. Edwards will be deeply felt by many, especially his father Glen and devoted mother Elizabeth, his sister and best friend Robin, and dozens of family and friends; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of U.S. Army PFC Shawn C. Edwards along with all who knew and loved him, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of U.S. Army PFC Shawn C. Edwards and his willingness to serve our country which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of U.S. Army PFC Shawn C. Edwards as a token of our deepest sympathy.