HR0889 LRB095 16390 GRL 42469 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to recognize one of our own, State
4 Representative Jim Watson, for his service to our country; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Representative Jim Watson believes in his heart
6 the words of President John F. Kennedy, who said: "One man can
7 make a difference and every man should try"; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Representative Watson cites the heroism of our war
9 heroes throughout American history, including Sergeant Sammy
10 L. Davis, recipient of the Medal of Honor for valorous conduct
11 while serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War,
12 and Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, recipient of the Medal of Honor
13 for his gallantry in command of the 20th Maine Infantry at the
14 Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Representative Watson was a member of the United
16 States Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserves from 1985 until
17 1991, serving in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm from 1990
18 to 1991; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Representative Watson believes that there is a
20 general sense of duty that does not end when one takes the
21 uniform off; and
 

 

 

HR0889 - 2 - LRB095 16390 GRL 42469 r

1     WHEREAS, Representative Watson re-enlisted last May as an
2 E-6 Staff Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves
3 and was attached to the Civil Affairs Group (CAG) at Camp
4 Pendleton, California; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Representative Watson is set to deploy to Iraq
6 next month as a member of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force's
7 (I MEF) Headquarters Unit; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Representative Watson will be serving in Fallujah
9 in Al-Anbar province as part of the Unit's Governance Cell,
10 where he will be working with the local population to build
11 provincial and municipal governments; and
 
12     WHEREAS, To achieve this objective, Representative
13 Watson's unit will focus on tribal engagement - working with
14 the existing tribes in the region to form functioning
15 democratic governments; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Representative Watson is a citizen soldier, a
17 concept which our Founding Fathers strongly believed in; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Representative Watson is making a sacrifice for
19 our country and for our freedom and is setting a great example
20 for the next generation of Americans; and
 

 

 

HR0889 - 3 - LRB095 16390 GRL 42469 r

1     WHEREAS, Representative Watson himself stated: "If
2 thousands of service men and women with jobs and families back
3 home can go to Iraq, how can it be wrong for an elected
4 official to step up and serve?"; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Representative Watson will be leaving behind his
6 three loving children, ages 9, 13, and 16, and stated that his
7 family was his main concern upon receiving word he was headed
8 to Iraq; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11 honor Representative Jim Watson for his service to our country;
12 that he has our full support as he leaves this august body to
13 begin his tour-of-duty; and that we will work to ensure the
14 interests of his constituents are heard while he is away; and
15 be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17 presented to Representative Jim Watson and his family as a
18 symbol of our appreciation and respect.