Friday, June 27, 2008

Honoring Illinois' Fallen


The Office of the Governor of Illlinois has ordered the United States and Illinois flags to be flown at half-staff from Sunrise, Monday, June 30, 2008 until Sunset, Wednesday, July 2, 2008, in memory of Pfc. Dawid Pietrek, USMC.

From the Patriot Guard Riders website:

"USMC Pfc. Dawid Pietrek, 24, of Bensenville, Ill. (where he enlisted) has given his all for his adopted country.
"Dawid was a citizen of Poland, with his US citizenship application in process, when he laid down his life for us all.
"Semper Fi!
"Dawid's entire family still resides in Poland, and has granted PGR the honor of standing for their Hero, OUR Hero, at his burial services at Arlington National Cemetery."

From the Daily Herald:

"Dawid Pietrek came to the U.S. at about 21 on a green card with dreams of going to college and becoming a police officer."
"The 24-year-old DuPage County man was killed Saturday (June 14) with three other Marines while returning to their base when their Humvee was blown up by a roadside bomb in the worst single attack this year on U.S. or coalition forces in Afghanistan."

1 comment:

Richard W Gorski, M.D. said...

May God bless and welcome Marine Private First Class Dawid Pietrek to his heavenly reward. May his family be given the strength to handle this terrible loss of a loved one. My experience with U.S. Marines came with my caring for the injured Marines and Navy Corpsmen during the Viet Nam War. I, to this day, could not be more proud of the sacrifices they then and now have made for our freedom and that of the world. Always remember that Freedom is not free it is paid for by the blood, sacrifices and lives of our patriotic men and women who serve their country. Thank you all for your service to your country.