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91_HR0275
LRB9106789CBcb
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, On March 31, 1999, Specialist Steven Gonzales,
3 Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, and Staff Sergeant Christopher
4 Stone were captured while on patrol along the border of
5 Kosovo and Macedonia; and
6 WHEREAS, All diplomatic efforts to secure their release
7 were unsuccessful; and
8 WHEREAS, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., on April 29,
9 1999, led a delegation of religious and civic leaders from
10 the United States, including Representative Rod R.
11 Blagojevich, in a faith-based effort to secure the release of
12 Specialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez,
13 and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone; and
14 WHEREAS, Against great odds and in the face of grave
15 personal risks, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and his party
16 entered a war zone and successfully secured the release of
17 Specialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez,
18 and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone; and
19 WHEREAS, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. has successfully
20 secured the release of prisoners in other countries on
21 several previous occasions; in 1984, he secured the release
22 of United States Navy flyer, Lieutenant Robert O. Goodman,
23 Jr. from Syria, in June 1984, he secured the release of 22
24 United States citizens and 26 Cubans from Cuba, and in 1990,
25 he secured the release of 700 women and children who were
26 being detained in Iraq; and
27 WHEREAS, Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is recognized
28 around the world as a humanitarian, an advocate for civil and
29 human rights, and an ambassador of freedom; and
30 WHEREAS, As a highly respected world leader, Reverend
31 Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. has acted many times as an
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1 international diplomat in sensitive situations and in October
2 1997, he was appointed by President Clinton and Secretary of
3 State Albright as Special Envoy of the President and
4 Secretary of State for the Promotion of Democracy in Africa;
5 therefore, be it
6 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
8 we commend Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. for securing the
9 release of Specialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew
10 Ramirez, and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone from captivity
11 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That we express our gratitude to Reverend Jesse
13 L. Jackson, Sr. and his delegation for securing the release
14 and safe return of Specialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant
15 Andrew Ramirez, and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone; and be
16 it further
17 RESOLVED, That we join with the people of Illinois and
18 the United States in celebrating the return to freedom of
19 Specialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez,
20 and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone; and be it further
21 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
22 presented to Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and
23 Representative Rod R. Blagojevich.