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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of USMC
4Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda of Marine, who passed away on March
518, 2013; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda graduated from
7Highland High School in 2005; during high school, he played
8football and was involved in the school's annual madrigal
9dinner; and
 
10    WHEREAS, After high school, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda
11attended St. Xavier University in Chicago for a year and then
12enrolled in and graduated from the L'Ecole Culinaire School in
13St. Louis, Missouri; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Being an avid traveler, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda
15felt a calling to explore the world by becoming a Marine in
162008; while at Camp Lejeune, he developed a passion for
17sailing, bought a two-person sailboat, and often took friends
18out on a bay near the base; and
 
19    WHEREAS, While enlisted in the Marine Corps, Corporal Aaron
20J. Ripperda traveled to several countries, including Haiti to
21help with recovery efforts after the 2010 earthquake, and

 

 

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1Afghanistan; in April of 2011, he was promoted to the rank of
2corporal; among his numerous honors were a Navy Unit
3Commendation and a Humanitarian Service Medal; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda was one of seven
5members of the Second Marine Division whose lives was lost on
6March 18, 2013, in an explosion during training at the
7Hawthorne Army Depot in western Nevada; he was the most senior
8of those lost on that day, both in age and rank; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda is survived by his
10father, Kent (Colleen) Ripperda; his mother, Tina (Jeff)
11Sutton; his sister, Kendall (significant other, Charlie Swaim)
12Ripperda; his paternal grandmother, Rita Ripperda; his
13maternal grandfather, Ronald (Jackie) Lesicko; his special
14friend, Jessica Iskrzycki; his aunts and uncles, Kurt (Lynn)
15Ripperda, Cara (significant other, John Zerkle) Tomasek,
16William (Beverly) Lesicko, Patrick (Julie) Lesicko; and his
17many cousins; therefore, be it
 
18    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
20we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
21Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda; and be it further
 
22    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Corporal Aaron J.

 

 

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1Ripperda and his patriotism and willingness to serve his
2country, which led him to making the ultimate sacrifice; and be
3it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
5presented to the family of Corporal Aaron J. Ripperda as a
6symbol of our sincere sympathy.