THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY KAVULICH, MURPHY, BOBACK, STABACK, MAJOR, SCAVELLO, MULLERY, MILLARD, DONATUCCI, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, D. COSTA, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GINGRICH, HENNESSEY, KORTZ, READSHAW, SAMUELSON, SANTONI, SONNEY, SWANGER, TOEPEL, YOUNGBLOOD, KULA, WATERS AND GODSHALL, JUNE 4, 2012

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 4, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Observing June 2012 as "Gary Lukasiewicz 'Keep Fighting Gary'

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Gary Lukasiewicz of 79 Vine Street in Taylor was a

young man who kept fighting to live against terrible odds, never

gave up and, in the process, inspired many thousands of people

to hope against hope; and

WHEREAS, Gary, an 18-year-old Riverside High School senior

and Senior Class President, battled a rare form of cancer for

two years; and

WHEREAS, Gary's fight galvanized the areas within and around

Taylor Borough in Lackawanna County and elsewhere within this

Commonwealth and even around the nation; and

WHEREAS, Gary had suffered the first occurrence of cancer as

a junior in Riverside High School; and

WHEREAS, The cancer returned during his senior year, and he

entered hospice care on May 7, 2012; and

WHEREAS, People learned about Gary's fight through the social

media, and more than 47,000 people tweeted messages with the

hash tag "Keep Fighting Gary" to help the teen keep up the fight

to live one more day at a time; and

WHEREAS, The effort moved over to the YouTube website with

his friends and supporters producing videos about the effort and

into Facebook and other social websites as people throughout the

world posted messages for Gary Lukasiewicz; and

WHEREAS, Businesses and people throughout the Lackawanna

community and elsewhere joined in the effort by creating their

own signs of support for Gary; and

WHEREAS, Students raised money for cancer research, hundreds

of friends, family members, teachers and classmates began

attending a prayer vigil nightly, and businesses and individuals

donated to the cause; and

WHEREAS, Although Gary had received the last rites, he was

able to return home under the care of hospice, and on the night

of Friday, May 18, 2012, he attended his senior prom; and

WHEREAS, Although his caretakers allowed 15 minutes for the

visit, his determination allowed him to stay nearly one hour,

during which time his classmates voted him Prom King; and

WHEREAS, Sadly, Gary passed away one day later on May 19,

2012; and

WHEREAS, His supporters still spoke out strongly for Gary by

establishing a special day of remembrance for him on Monday, May

21, 2012, on Twitter and producing more videos on YouTube and

posts on Facebook to remember him; and

WHEREAS, Born in Kingston, Gary was the son of Chester A. and

Cheryl A. Sedlak Lukasiewicz; and

WHEREAS, Gary served as class president during his Riverside

High School junior and senior years; and

WHEREAS, He had earned a QPA that put him fourth in his class

and was a member of the National Honor Society for three

consecutive years and of the Spanish Club; and

WHEREAS, Gary played varsity baseball and soccer for the

Riverside Vikings; and

WHEREAS, Gary also participated as a goalie for the Scranton

Lightning Hockey League and the Wilkes-Barre Junior Penguins and

was a parishioner of Divine Mercy Parish; and

WHEREAS, Gary Lukasiewicz's struggle and his effort to keep

fighting against all odds to live another day to the fullest and

the effort by his family, friends and others throughout

Lackawanna County, this Commonwealth, the nation and elsewhere

around the world to give Gary hope against all odds can teach

everyone a special lesson of the power of support, love, care

and determination; and

WHEREAS, Gary's family, friends, supporters and others hope

to use his story to inspire others to keep fighting despite

terrible odds and to bring about great positive change, not only

for cancer patients of all ages, but for all those who may face

difficulties that seem insurmountable, but can be overcome with

help and support from others; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives observe June 2012

as "Gary Lukasiewicz 'Keep Fighting Gary' Month" in Pennsylvania

in memory of Gary Lukasiewicz who kept fighting on to live each

day to the fullest; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend all those

who organized the "Keep Fighting Gary" effort through social

media websites, including Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, and

through various other means, including raising funds for cancer

research, organizing prayer vigils and spreading the word

through the news media and elsewhere; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the effort showed that hope can spread through

a nation, state and community and reach out elsewhere into the

world and can help other cancer patients or others with

difficulties that seem insurmountable.