2012 -- S 2859

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LC02397

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2012

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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N

HONORING THE LATE DENNIS WEICHEL FOR HIS HEROIC ACTIONS AND

EXTENDING OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY ON HIS PASSING

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Paiva Weed, Ruggerio, Gallo, and Tassoni

     Date Introduced: April 10, 2012

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Islanders and Americans are proud and thankful for the dedicated

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service and great courage of Sergeant Dennis Weichel, and so it was with profound sadness that

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we learned of his tragic passing as a result of his heroic actions while conducting military

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operations in Afghanistan; and

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     WHEREAS, Sergeant Dennis Weichel, an Army National Guardsman from Rhode

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Island, encountered a life and death situation and without a moment’s hesitation, did the

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extraordinary, and saved a child’s life.  In doing so, he made the ultimate sacrifice of his own life;

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and

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     WHEREAS, The beloved son of Linda and Dennis Weichel, Sergeant Weichel was a

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loving fiancé to Ashley-Ann Ravon and a devoted father of Nicholas, Hope, and

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Madison. Previous to his deployment, Sergeant Weichel had been a resident of the City of

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Providence; and

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     WHEREAS, As member of the Rhode Island Army National Guard, Sergeant Weichel

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had been deployed to Afghanistan. While riding in a convoy, his unit encountered children

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collecting shell casings on the road ahead of the unit’s truck, a Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected

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vehicle that weighs more than 16 tons; and

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     WHEREAS, The soldiers urged the children to get out of the way but one young child

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ran back to pick up more casings from underneath the massive vehicle. Seeing that the child was

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in imminent peril, Sergeant Weichel reacted immediately and lifted him out of the way but his

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heroic efforts had dire consequences. He was then struck by the truck and later died as a result of

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his injuries; and

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     WHEREAS, Sergeant Weichel has been posthumously awarded with the Bronze Star, the

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nation’s fourth highest award for bravery, the Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon, and the NATO

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Service Medal. He has also been awarded the Rhode Island Star, the state’s second highest

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military award, and was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant on March 26, 2012; and

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     WHEREAS, Our thoughts and hearts hold great empathy and sorrow for the family of

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Sergeant Dennis Weichel and it is essential that they know they are never far from our thoughts

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and prayers; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby recognizes and honors Sergeant Dennis Weichel for his courage, sacrifice, and

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commitment.  We furthermore recognize that our freedom and human rights are safeguarded by

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the heroic service and the actions of all the valiant and dauntless members of the Armed Forces;

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and be it further  

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby expresses our deepest sympathies to the entire

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Weichel Family on the passing of Sergeant Dennis Weichel. His selflessness and compassion will

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long be remembered by this body and the citizens of our state; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Weichel and Family.

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LC02397

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