SJ0002 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0002 LRB100 05588 MST 15602 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly are proud to honor those who have given their lives to the defense of our nation; and

WHEREAS, Lance Cpl. Richard Charles "Ricky" Bennett was born on August 1, 1947 in Detroit, Michigan; his parents were Edwin and June Bennett; he and his family moved to Wood River when he was in grade school; after graduating from East Alton-Wood River High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps; he passed away on August 10, 1967 from injuries suffered by enemy explosion fragments while on water detail in Thua Thien; and

WHEREAS, Lance Cpl. Chris A. Totora was born on October 7, 1948 at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton; his parents were Anthony and Rosemary Totora; he was raised in Wood River and attended East Alton-Wood River High School, where he was active in football and wrestling and graduated in 1966; he joined the United States Marine Corps in August of 1966 and underwent Basic Training at Camp Pendleton in California; he passed away on October 25, 1967 in Danang from injuries sustained after an explosion while on patrol in the Quang Nam Province; and

WHEREAS, PFC Jim Stassi also attended East Alton-Wood River Community High School and enlisted in the Marines following his graduation in 1965; he was killed on June 27, 1967 in South Vietnam from injuries suffered by an enemy landmine; he was 19 years old; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting and proper to pay tribute to these courageous men and their great sacrifice in the name of liberty; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of Illinois Route 143 from the Phoebe Goldberg Overpass to Sixth Street as the "Lance Cpl. Chris Totora Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate the portion of Illinois Route 143 from Sixth Street to East Edwardsville Road as the "USMC Lance Cpl. Richard Bennett Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate the portion of Illinois Route 143 from East Edwardsville Road to the I-255 overpass as the "PFC Jim Stassi 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, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of these names; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the families of Lance Cpl. Richard Bennett, Lance Cpl. Chris Totora, and PFC Jim Stassi.