Bill Text: IL HJR0035 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designates the section of Illinois Route 251 from Bridge Street in Roscoe to Rockton Road in Roscoe as the Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe Memorial Highway.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-04-09 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0035 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HJR0035-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
who have served our country and, in doing so, have gone above
and beyond the call of duty to make the ultimate sacrifice for
our nation; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe was killed in
action during the War in Iraq near the city of Al Hillah on
March 31, 2003; he was a member of the 101st Airborne Division
(Air Assault) of the United States Army and was based at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky; he was the first Infantryman of the 101st
to be killed in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom and the first
from the Northern Illinois Area to be killed in that war; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe was a machine gun (SAW) operator
in his infantry unit that was assigned to a tank unit to
provide cover; their combined mission was to perform a "feint"
to draw attention from the main attacking force;
unfortunately, they came into an ambush situation and were
completely surrounded; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe's death was the catalyst that led
the leader of his unit to get the men to safety, off of their
assigned tanks, and to find cover; against great odds, the

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unit continued to fight for eight hours that day, in spite of
the fact that information had been offered that there would be
little resistance by the Republican Guard Soldiers; no other
lives were lost in the battle, making the mission a success;
and
WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe was posthumously awarded many
medals, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart
Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Medal; he earned many
other awards and recognitions throughout his military career;
and
WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe was born in Rockford on April 14,
1982; he graduated from Hononegah High School in 2000; during
high school, he worked at DiGiovanni's Restaurant and
Highlander Supermarket in Roscoe; he attended Rock Valley
College before enlisting in the United States Army in 2001; he
planned to continue studying computers after his military
service; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Rowe is survived by his paternal
grandmother, Tennessee Sanders; his mother, Wendy Borowski;
his stepfather, Rick Borowski; his father, Milton Rowe; his
stepmother, Debbie Rowe; his sister, Leah (Doug) Yates; his
brothers, Brent and Kevin Rowe; his stepsisters, Heidi and
Heather Schultz; his nephews, Devon Yates and Jake and Aiden

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Rowe; and his niece, Grace Yates; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the section of
Illinois Route 251 from Bridge Street in Roscoe to Rockton
Road in Roscoe as the Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe Memorial
Highway; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Illinois Tollway is requested to erect
at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal
regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the
name of "Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe Memorial Highway"; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the family of Specialist Brandon Jacob Rowe and
the Secretary of the Department of Transportation.