HR0292 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0292 LRB096 12450 KXB 25429 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of United States Army Sergeant Robert M. Weinger of Round Lake Beach, who gave his life to his country in Jalabad, Afghanistan on March 15, 2009; and

WHEREAS, He was born on December 22, 1984; he enlisted in the Illinois Army National Guard in January of 2006; and

WHEREAS, He graduated from Round Lake High School in 2003; and

WHEREAS, He enlisted with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Woodstock; Sergeant Weinger had been deployed in Iraq for one year for Operation Iraqi Freedom and was one of the soldiers chosen to guard Saddam Hussein; after returning from Iraq, he volunteered to deploy with an infantry unit to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, He and his unit were in Afghanistan helping train local police and the Afghan army; he was promoted posthumously from specialist to sergeant; and

WHEREAS, He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Combat Infantry Badge during his years of service; and

WHEREAS, Robert put his heart and soul into whatever he did, whether it was in the United States Army, where he was his unit's weaponry expert, or at home, where he and his brother, Paul, shared a love for cars and skating at the local roller rink and were members of the wrestling team in high school; and

WHEREAS, Robert Weinger is survived by his father and mother, Howard and Susan; his brother, Paul; the love of his life, Tanya Colatori; and two of his best childhood friends, Jack Pryde (United States Navy) and Bill Coots, who along with Robert, were often referred to as "the Three Stooges"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of United States Army Sergeant Robert Weinger; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Sergeant Robert M. Weinger and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Sergeant Robert Weinger as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.