THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

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

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

Kenneth VanGiesen and pay tribute to his sacrifice in the line

of duty.