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SR0273 |
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LRB095 12586 GRL 37840 r |
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| SENATE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to |
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| learn of the death of
U.S. Army Specialist Karen Clifton, who |
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| was killed in action in Baghdad, Iraq on June 21, 2007; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton was born May 10, 1985 in |
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| Decatur; her parents are Doug V. Clifton and Chris (Maurer) |
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| Hancock; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton attended school in Mount Zion |
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| through her junior year and was active in the Mt. Zion Police |
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| Department Explorer's Program; she moved to Florida in her |
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| senior year, where she completed high school in 2003; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton returned to Illinois after |
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| graduation and enlisted in the U.S. Army, to begin a career |
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| with the Military Police; she was currently serving her country |
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| in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and obtained the |
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| rank of Specialist in the 544th MP CO, Forward Platoon, 630th |
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| MP CO, 759th MP Battalion of the 89th MP Brigade; she was |
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| scheduled to complete her one-year tour of duty in Iraq in June |
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| 2007, but had her tour of duty extended until October 2007; and
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| WHEREAS, In recognition of her incredible bravery, Spc. |
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| Karen Clifton was posthumously promoted to the rank of Corporal |
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SR0273 |
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LRB095 12586 GRL 37840 r |
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| and was awarded the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, Combat |
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| Action Badge, and the Army Good Conduct Medal; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton was an avid Indy car racing fan |
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| who hoped to see the day a woman would win a big race; she also |
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| loved to shop and eat out, especially at the El Matador and Red |
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| Lobster restaurants when she returned home on leave; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton was preceded in death by her |
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| niece; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton is survived by her father; her |
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| mother, Chris Hancock; her sisters, Cindy (Blake) Blackston and |
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| Katie Maple; her stepsister, Heather Maple; her stepbrother, |
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| Sean Maple; her grandparents, Vernon and Carol Clifton and |
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| Sheila and Richard Cairns; her grandfather, Lee Maurer; her |
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| nephew, Corbin Davis, her niece, Allysa Davis, and many aunts, |
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| uncles, and cousins who loved her very much; and
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| WHEREAS, Spc. Karen Clifton's dedication to her country |
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| serves as an inspiration to the people of the State of Illinois |
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| and our nation; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL |
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| ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with |
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| her family and friends, the passing of U.S. Army Specialist |
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SR0273 |
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LRB095 12586 GRL 37840 r |
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| Karen Clifton; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Specialist Karen |
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| Clifton and her willingness to serve our country, which led to |
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| her making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
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| RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
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| presented to the family of U.S. Army Specialist Karen Clifton |
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| as an expression of our sympathy.
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