THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY FREEMAN, BEYER, BAKER, BARBIN, SONNEY, BEAR, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BOYD, BROOKS, BUXTON, CALTAGIRONE, CASORIO, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, COX, CUTLER, DALEY, DELOZIER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FARRY, FLECK, GABLER, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARKINS, HARPER, HAHN, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, M. KELLER, KESSLER, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KORTZ, LENTZ, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MARSICO, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MICCARELLI, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MIRABITO, MOUL, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PYLE, RAPP, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SANTARSIERO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SHAPIRO, SIPTROTH, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, R. TAYLOR, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, METCALFE AND BROWN, JUNE 23, 2010

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 23, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life and expressing condolences upon the death of

Airman 1st Class Austin Gates-Benson, who died on May 3,

2010, while serving his country in Afghanistan.

WHEREAS, Airman 1st Class Austin Gates-Benson was a resident

of Hellertown and a 2008 graduate of Saucon Valley High School;

and 

WHEREAS, Airman 1st Class Gates-Benson joined the United

States Air Force shortly after graduating from high school and

volunteered for duty in Afghanistan; and 

WHEREAS, Airman 1st Class Gates-Benson served with the 54th

Combat Communications Squadron attached to Robins Air Force Base

in Georgia and was serving along the Kyber Pass near Torkham,

Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, On May 3, 2010, he died unexpectedly from noncombat-

related injuries and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery

on June 4, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Former Saucon Valley High School principal Todd

Gombos described Airman 1st Class Gates-Benson as an independent

thinker, an advocate for others and a young man who was going to

do something with his life; and

WHEREAS, A high school athlete, he had the unique opportunity

to appear in the movie "Stepmom" as a stunt double because of

his horseback riding abilities; and

WHEREAS, Airman 1st Class Gates-Benson is survived by his

mother, Joie Gates; his father, Frederick J. Boenig; a half-

brother, Search D. Willson; maternal grandparents Lois and Milo

E. Benson; and his paternal grandmother, Elaine L. Blair; and

WHEREAS, It is fitting to commend the patriotic

contributions Airman 1st Class Gates-Benson made, to be saddened

by his death and to honor the supreme sacrifice he paid on

behalf of this nation and this Commonwealth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life

and express condolences upon the death of Airman 1st Class

Austin Gates-Benson, who paid the supreme sacrifice on May 3,

2010, while serving his country in Afghanistan.