HJ0093 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0093 LRB099 13558 GRL 37501 r

HOUSE 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

WHEREAS, Bryant J. "B.J." Luxmore was born on November 3, 1986; he grew up in New Windsor with his parents, Brenda and Leonard Luxmore, and his brother, Brock; and

WHEREAS, B.J. was a hometown boy, and he loved the small community he came from; he was an avid athlete and student who graduated from Sherrard High School in 2005; in high school, he was an excellent athlete in football and baseball; he continued his baseball career at the collegiate level at Monmouth College and Illinois College, where he graduated in 2009; and

WHEREAS, B.J. entered the United States Army in April of 2011 as an infantryman; he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division; after honoring his parents' wishes for him to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree, he pursued his passion to enlist; and

WHEREAS, B.J. married Jaimie Lower on October 8, 2011 and relocated to Fort Stewart, Georgia to begin a life together with their son, Lane; he was family-oriented and enjoyed spending any free time he had at home teaching Lane to play baseball; and

WHEREAS, B.J. deployed to Afghanistan in March of 2012; he died in the service of his country at the age of 25 in Panjwai, Afghanistan when he suffered injuries while encountering enemy small arms fire; he was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantry Badge; and

WHEREAS, B.J. is survived by his wife, Jaimie; his son, Lane; his parents; his brother, Brock, and his wife, Melissa; his maternal grandparents, William and Marcia Johnson; his paternal grandmother, Donna Jo Luxmore; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews; and

WHEREAS, Anyone who knew B.J. knew that family was the most important thing to him; he was a homebody and a huge sports fan; he and his brother were always outside throwing a football or baseball; he continued his love of sports with Lane and instilled the importance of being a St. Louis Cardinals fan; and

WHEREAS, B.J. was a quiet hero who was looked up to by everyone who knew him, as he took his work seriously but had an amazing sense of humor and quick wit that made him so much fun to be around; his dedication, heroism, and courage will never be forgotten by his family, his city, his State, or his country; and

WHEREAS, His heart was huge and his smile was infectious; his first entry in his journal he kept in Afghanistan read, "If you don't live for something, you will die for nothing"; CPL Bryant J. Luxmore lived and died for all of us; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of Illinois Route 17 from the Henry/Mercer County Line to the Village of Viola as the CPL Bryant J. Luxmore Memorial Highway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with State and federal regulations, an appropriate plaque or signs giving notice of the name of the CPL Bryant J. Luxmore Memorial Highway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Bryant J. Luxmore and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.