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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to 
3learn of the death of Xenophon "Fonda" Doudalis of Des Plaines, 
4who passed away on May 27, 2019; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis was born on May 24, 1924; a 
6resident of Des Plaines since 1962, he served as a sergeant in 
7the United States Army during World War II; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis was chosen as a Legion of Honor 
9recipient for helping to liberate French cities and villages as 
10he and his army unit, the 281st Engineer Battalion serving 
11under General George Patton, made their way through France on 
12the way to Germany; the French Legion of Honor is the highest 
13French government order recognizing military and civilian 
14merit; the honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802; 
15and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis and his unit arrived in Normandy 
17on December 29, 1944; as they advanced through the country, the 
18troops often came under heavy enemy fire, forcing them to 
19scatter; at one point, he took shelter in an abandoned bicycle 
20factory and then used one of the bicycles to help search for 
21the rest of his unit; at the end of April 1945, he discovered 
22the horrors of the Dachau concentration camp, where 32,000 men, 
 
 
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1women, and children were held prisoners; he was among the first 
2U.S. soldiers to liberate the camp; his assignment was to 
3photograph the area and then help rescue the camp's prisoners; 
4and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis participated in an Honor Flight 
6to Washington, D.C.; he was a humble man who put everyone else 
7before himself; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis was the beloved husband of the 
9late Maria (Baltas) Doudalis for 62 years, the loving father of 
10Valerie (John) Magg, the loving grandfather of Matthew (Lisa) 
11Doudalis and Marisa (Sean) Wilhelm, and the loving 
12great-grandfather of Maria Angela, Isabella, Alexis, and Adam; 
13therefore, be it
  
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL 
15ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of 
16Xenophon "Fonda" Doudalis and extend our sincere condolences to 
17his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it 
18further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Xenophon Doudalis as an expression 
21of our deepest sympathy.