Bill Text: PA HR439 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Recognizing and honoring the life and service of Pennsylvania Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Kenneth VanGiesen and paying tribute to his sacrifice in the line of duty.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 71-31)

Status: (Passed) 2011-11-01 - Adopted (195-0) [HR439 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HR439-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2508
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 439 Session of2011
INTRODUCED BY RAPP, HORNAMAN, GILLEN, PERRY, CAUSER, AUMENT, BAKER, BEAR, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, BRADFORD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, COX, CUTLER, DALEY, DELOZIER, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, ELLIS, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FARRY, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HAHN, HALUSKA, HARRIS, HENNESSEY, HICKERNELL, JOSEPHS, KAUFFMAN, F. KELLER, M. K. KELLER, W. KELLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, MAHER, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MARSICO, McGEEHAN, METCALFE, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MULLERY, MURT, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PICKETT, RAVENSTAHL, REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SONNEY, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, TAYLOR, THOMAS, TOEPEL, TOOHIL, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YOUNGBLOOD, OCTOBER 5, 2011
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 5, 2011
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and honoring the life and service of Pennsylvania
Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Kenneth VanGiesen and
paying tribute to his sacrifice in the line of duty.
WHEREAS, Kenneth VanGiesen was born on August 3, 1980, in
Kane, McKean County; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth VanGiesen graduated from Kane Area High
School in 1999 and enlisted in the Pennsylvania Army National
Guard; and
WHEREAS, Kenneth VanGiesen was a Pennsylvania Army National
Guard staff sergeant attached to the Kane National Guard Unit,
Detachment 1, Company A, 128th Brigade Support Battalion of the
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Pennsylvania Army National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen gave his life on July 18, 2011,
near Bagram, Afghanistan, while serving with the 131st
Transportation Company, 213th Area Support Group of the
Pennsylvania Army National Guard; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen served his nation and this
Commonwealth in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for 12
years; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen served four tours overseas, in
Germany, twice in Iraq and in Afghanistan, logging 1,400
mobilized days in overseas deployment, being 1 of only 16
Pennsylvania Army National Guardsmen serving at that level of
active duty; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen demonstrated deep fidelity to
the United States and this Commonwealth, bravely facing the
dangers of his military service and performing his duties with
exemplary knowledge, ability and integrity; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen served with great distinction,
earning two Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Action Badge, two
Iraq Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal,
a Meritorious Unit Commendation and two Navy Unit Commendations;
and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen's last moments were spent
serving the United States' mission in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sgt. VanGiesen is survived by his high school
sweetheart, with whom he shared a home, Erin Sirianni; his
parents, Susan and Thomas; his sister, Amie; his brother, Matt;
his extended family and his beloved dog, Bandit; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize and honor the life and
service of Pennsylvania Army National Guard Staff Sergeant
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Kenneth VanGiesen and pay tribute to his sacrifice in the line
of duty.
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