SJ0004 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0004 LRB099 03621 GRL 23629 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country and, in doing so, have gone above and beyond the call of duty to take part in truly heroic tasks; and

WHEREAS, Gary "Randy" Scott was born on January 17, 1961 and grew up in Rankin; and

WHEREAS, Gary Scott joined the United States Marine Corps on February 22, 1980; he served as part of the Multinational Peacekeeping Force as a member of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment Landing Team - BLT 1/8 of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit as a combat engineer; and

WHEREAS, On October 23, 1983, Gary Scott was serving as a corporal when a truck laden with the equivalent of over 12,000 pounds of TNT crashed through the perimeter of the compound of the United States contingent of the Multinational Force at Beirut International Airport in Lebanon, penetrated the Battalion Landing Team Headquarters building, and detonated; the force of the explosion destroyed the building, resulting in the deaths of 241 United States military personnel: 200 Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers; this incident was the deadliest single-day death toll for the United States Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima; and

WHEREAS, Following his courageous service, Gary Scott was posthumously promoted to the rank of sergeant; and

WHEREAS, There is a section of highway on Illinois Route 49 from Illinois Route 9 in Rankin which extends to the southern edge of Cissna Park; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of Illinois Route 49 from Illinois Route 9 in Rankin to the southern edge of Cissna Park as the "Sgt. Gary "Randy" Scott Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with State and federal regulations, an appropriate plaque or signs giving notice of the name of the Sgt. Gary "Randy" Scott Memorial Highway; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Gary "Randy" Scott, the Fallen Heroes Veterans Club, the Village of Rankin, the Village of Cissna Park, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.