SR0787 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0787 LRB094 20720 HSS 59037 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with regret of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Second Class Christopher Brian Donaldson of Effingham on Friday, May 5, 2006, while serving his country in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, He was born on May 17, 1977, in Effingham to Bill and Lynne (Laue) Donaldson; and

WHEREAS, He was a 1995 graduate of Effingham High School, where he played football and baseball; on September 12, 1997, he enlisted in the U. S. Army and had served for the past nine years; and

WHEREAS, He achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant as an enlisted soldier; he went on to graduate and be commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer; and

WHEREAS, Chief Warrant Officer Donaldson worked as an avenger crewman for two years then as a Chinook helicopter repairman for five years; after working as a Chinook Helicopter repairman, he was accepted into Officer Training School, where he graduated as a Warrant Officer and went on to become a Chinook helicopter pilot; and

WHEREAS, He did two overseas tours, one in Korea and one in Germany; he received the Campaign Medal and the NATO Medal for completion of his mission as a helicopter repairman in Kosovo; he also received the Army Commendation Medal (second award), Army Good Conduct medal, National Defense Service medal, Noncommissioned Officer's Professional Development ribbon, Army Service ribbon, Overseas Service ribbon (second award), Expert Marksmanship Qualification badge for grenade throwing, and Sharpshooter badge for rifle marksmanship; and

WHEREAS, Chief Donaldson was serving in Afghanistan attached to the 10th Mountain Division based in Fort Drum, New York; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Chief Warrant Officer Christopher B. Donaldson has been deeply felt by many, especially his father, Bill Donaldson; his mother, Lynne Donaldson; his brothers, Jason and Ryan Donaldson; his grandparents, Thelma and Orville Laue; his aunts, Anita (husband, Jeff) Kline, Diann Louderback, and Beth (husband, Jinn) Phelps; his uncle, Don (wife, Faith) Donaldson; his cousins, Nick Kline, Matt Kline, Mitch Kline, Austin Kline, Sara Louderback, Carrie Phelps, Kendra Donaldson, and Kelsey Donaldson; he was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Mary Donaldson, and his cousin, Stephanie Louderback; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Chief Warrant Officer Second Class Christopher Brian Donaldson, and we extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Chief Donaldson and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our deepest sympathy.