HR0012 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0012 LRB097 10483 KXB 50758 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Lance Corporal Alec E. Catherwood of Byron, who gave his life defending America's freedom on October 14, 2010, in the Helmand province of southern Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Alec E. Catherwood was born on May 6, 1991 in Heilbronn, Germany, to Kirk and Gretchen Catherwood; and

WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Catherwood was a member of the Future Farmers of America, in which he served as a Sentinel; he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America; and he held a black belt in tae kwon do; and

WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Catherwood graduated in 2009 from Byron High School and enlisted in the United States Marines Corps on June 1, 2009, where he had wanted to serve since he was 3 years old; and

WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Catherwood was deployed to Afghanistan to serve his first combat tour of duty and had talked about re-enlisting; and

WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Catherwood's awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and

WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Catherwood will be missed by his parents, Kirk and Gretchen Catherwood; his sister, Mikaela Montgomery; his fiancee, Hailey Patrick, whom he was to marry on July 2, 2011; as well as his fellow soldiers and the citizens of a grateful nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Lance Corporal Alec E. Catherwood; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Lance Corporal Alec E. Catherwood 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 Lance Corporal Alec E. Catherwood as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.