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
 
                            -2-      LRB093 11650 KEF 15131 r
 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.