SR0738 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0738 LRB097 21297 KXB 69040 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of United States Army Sergeant Dean Russell Shaffer, who passed away on April 19, 2012, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, He was assigned to A Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade; he was born March 21, 1989, in Fort Myers, Florida, to Dean Randolph and Susan Marie (Rasbeck) Shaffer; and

WHEREAS, He was a 2007 graduate of Pekin Community High School, where he participated in the JROTC program and graduated with the rank of cadet sergeant major; he was a member of the JROTC Honor Guard, Color Guard, Drill Team, Physical Fitness Team, Academic Team, and Orienteering Team; he was the recipient of the first PCHS JROTC Career and Technical Education Award; and

WHEREAS, During his high school years, he worked at Steak 'n Shake in Pekin for several years; he enjoyed playing video games and paintballing; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Shaffer has been posthumously awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Combat Aviation Badge; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his grandfather, John Rasbeck; and

WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant Dean Russell Shaffer is survived by his mother, Susan Shaffer; his father and stepmother, Dean "Randy" and Jolyn Shaffer; his sister, Jennifer Davis; his niece, Emily Davis; his nephew, Mason Davis; and his grandparents, Mary Rasbeck, Denton Shaffer, and Sherry and Mark Taylor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of United States Army Sergeant Dean Russell Shaffer; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of United States Army Sergeant Dean Russell Shaffer 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 United States Army Sergeant Dean Russell Shaffer as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.