SR0665 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0665 LRB093 23295 KEF 53271 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Marine Cpl. Christopher W. Belchik of Alton who was killed in action August 22, 2004 in Al Anbar Province, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Marine Cpl. Belchik was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, Marine Cpl. Belchik grew up in Alton, the youngest of three children; he was unhappy with high school, dropped out his senior year and began a series of jobs that were always rigorous, including working as a bus boy in restaurants, and most recently, as a hod carrier hoisting mortar for bricklayers during construction season; and

WHEREAS, In 1998, he met and started dating Mary Hamberg; with her support, he decided to pursue joining the Marines; he later passed the high school equivalency exam and lost about 30 pounds to join the Marines; and

WHEREAS, Boot camp was especially challenging for Cpl. Belchik because he was older than most of the recruits, but he didn't let that discourage him; he served in South Africa and Kosovo before going to Iraq in January 2003; he then returned to Illinois last summer and got married to Mary in June; he went back to Iraq in February and was expected to come home in October; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Marine Cpl. Christopher W. Belchik will be deeply felt by many, especially his parents, Stephen Belchik and Lynn Kenker; his wife, Mary; his brother, Brian; and his sister, Julie Prats; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his family, friends, educators, community, and fellow members of the United States Armed Forces we mourn the death of Marine Cpl. Christopher W. Belchik who will be remembered as a patriotic, brave and courageous Marine, and offer our deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Marine Cpl. Christopher W. Belchik as an expression of our deepest sympathy.