HR0799 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0799 LRB093 21676 HSS 49440 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of Major Arthur "Artie" Gene Ecklund; and

WHEREAS, Arthur "Artie" Ecklund was born in Galesburg on May 5, 1943; and

WHEREAS, Major Ecklund was drafted into the United States Army in 1966, attended basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and was later commissioned as an officer at Fort Sill Oklahoma; and

WHEREAS, Major Ecklund completed helicopter training at Fort Walters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama; he graduated from training as a Huey gunship pilot to later serve his country as an Army air control pilot in Vietnam; and

WHEREAS, Major Ecklund arrived in Vietnam in November 1968 with the 183rd Aviation Company of the United States Army's 1st Aviation Brigade; and

WHEREAS, On April 3, 1969, Major Ecklund and his U.S. Air Force observer, Captain Perry Jefferson, were flying a visual reconnaissance mission out of Phan Pang airbase when their helicopter was shot down by enemy fire; and

WHEREAS, Thirty-five years to the date of his disappearance, on April 3, 2004, Major Ecklund was laid to rest; and

WHEREAS, The family of Artie Ecklund remember him as a devoted and generous son and brother, as well as an ambitious and self sufficient individual; and

WHEREAS, 9,087,000 United States military personnel courageously served their nation in the conflict in Vietnam; 58,169 military personnel were killed in the line of duty and 1,870 were declared to be missing in action from this conflict; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Major Arthur "Artie" Ecklund along with all who knew and loved him and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Major Arthur Ecklund and his willingness to serve our 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 Major Arthur Ecklund as an expression of our deepest sympathy and appreciation.