Illinois Honors Fallen Soldiers

In honor of Memorial Day. the Illinois House of Representatives paid tribute to Illinois military personnel who died in the past year.
There were 21 in all, soldiers and Marines from across the state. Many were killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan. One was murdered in North Carolina.  Last week, legislators read out the names of people from their areas from Chicago and Pekin to Jacksonville and Marion. The ceremony began with the clerk of the House reading the Gettysburg Address, in which Abraham Lincoln dedicated a cemetery after one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Lincoln said: "We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
 
Members of the Illinois House of Representatives then read the names of their constituents who died in the past year:
 
Private First Class Michael C. Olivieri, United States Army, Chicago, killed in action June 6, 2011.
Private First Class Timothy "T.J." Hansley, United States Army, Elgin, died June 21, 2011.
Sergeant Benjamin "Ben" Thomas, United States Army, Marion, died June 23, 2011.
Staff Sergeant Tyler M. Maritn, United States Army, Colchester, died July 12, 2011.
Sergeant Chritopher R. West, United States Army, Virden, died July 17, 2011.
Sergeant Andrew R. Tobin, United States Army, Jacksonville, killed in action Aug. 24, 2011.
Sergeant Timothy Sayne, United States Army, Effingham, killed in action Sept. 18, 2011.
Major Jeffrey Bland, United States Marines, Galesburg, died Sept. 19, 2011.
Captain Thomas Heitmann, United States Marines, Mendota, Illinois, died Sept. 19, 2011.
Private First Class Chad P. Dellit, United States Army, Fulton, died Sept. 21, 2011.
Specialist Michael Vukovich, United States Army, Crystal Lake, Illinois, died Sept. 30, 2011.
Lance Corporal Jordan S. Bastean, United States Marines, Pekin, killed in action Oct. 23, 2011.
Sergeant First Class David G. Robinson, United States Army, Winthrop Harbor, died Oct. 25, 2011.
Lance Corporal Nickolas A. Daniels, United States Marines, Elmwood Park, Illinois, killed in action Nov. 5, 2011.
Private First Class Adam E. Dobereiner, United States Army, Moline, killed in action Nov. 18, 2011.
Specialist Christopher A. Patterson, United States Army, North Aurora, killed in action Jan. 6, 2012.
Captain Nathan R. McHone, United States Marines, Crystal Lake, Illinois, died Jan. 19, 2012.
Captain Joshua C. Parish, United States Marines, Equality, Illinois, died Jan. 22, 2012.
Corporal Conner T. Lowry, United States Marines, Chicago, killed in action March 1, 2012.
Corporal Alex Martinez, United States Marines, Elgin, killed in action April 5, 2012.
Sergeant Dean R. Shafer, United States Army, Pekin, died April 19, 2012.