Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SJR0053

SJ0053 LRB104 17787 MST 31219 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to those who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Army Sgt. Kenneth Levi Ridgley of Olney always dreamed of becoming a soldier and used to spend time at local military recruiting stations in his hometown; and

WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley joined the Illinois National Guard and served for six years, a move that helped him earn his tuition at Southern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley joined the U.S. Army three years after leaving the Illinois National Guard and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team), Fort Lewis, Washington; and

WHEREAS, Sgt. Ridgley was killed in action on March 30, 2005 while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom when shooting broke out at a checkpoint as U.S. soldiers prepared to inspect a vehicle; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate U.S. Highway 250 from the intersection of U.S. Highway 50 and Illinois Route 130 in Olney to 10 miles west of Olney on U.S. Highway 50 as the "Sgt. Levi Ridgley 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 the name "Sgt. Levi Ridgley Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Sgt. Ridgley, the Mayor of Olney, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.