093_SR0138
LRB093 11650 KEF 15131 r
1 SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of
3 Illinois were saddened to learn of the combat death of
4 Private Jonathan Lee Gifford, United States Marine Corps, of
5 Decatur on March 23, 2003 in Iraq; and
6 WHEREAS, Private Gifford was a member of the 1st
7 Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade of
8 the United States Marine Corps; he was killed in action near
9 An Nasiriyah in an ambush while his unit was securing
10 bridges; and
11 WHEREAS, Private Gifford was born on October 30, 1972 to
12 Vicky J. Langley and John L. Gifford; he graduated from
13 Stephen Decatur High School in 1991; he had been employed at
14 Archer Daniels Midland before joining the United States
15 Marine Corps on October 30, 2001; joining the Marine Corps
16 was an ambition he had decided upon as a teenager; and
17 WHEREAS, Private Gifford always fought for the underdog,
18 so it was fitting that he fought for the Iraqi people; and
19 WHEREAS, The passing of Private Jonathan Lee Gifford has
20 been deeply felt by many, especially his daughter, Lexie
21 LeeAnn Gifford; his former wife, Vickey; his father, John
22 Gifford and wife Carol; his mother, Vicky Langley and husband
23 Tim; his sisters, Valerie Gifford and Tiffany Blastenbrei and
24 husband, Marine Staff Sgt. Todd Blastenbrei; his nephew,
25 Mason Gifford; his grandparents, Ronald and Peggy Gifford and
26 William and Reva Godfrey, Jr.; and many other family members
27 who loved him; he was preceded in death by his grandmother,
28 Janet Gould, and his sister, Jennifer; therefore, be it
29 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
30 OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his family,
31 friends, and this great nation, we mourn the passing of
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1 Private Jonathan Lee Gifford, United States Marine Corps, and
2 extend to his family and friends our deepest condolences; and
3 be it further
4 RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Private Gifford and
5 his willingness to serve our country, which led to him making
6 the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8 presented to the family of Private Jonathan Lee Gifford,
9 United States Marine Corps, as an expression of our sincere
10 sympathy during their time of loss.