HR0229 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0229 LRB094 11737 CSA 43717 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Joliet's Veterans of Foreign Wars Chateau Cantigny Post 367 will celebrate its 85th anniversary on April 16, 2005; and

WHEREAS, The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) was organized in 1899 and is composed of Army, Navy, and Marine veterans, all of whom share a comradery and a distinct allegiance to both country and each other; the objectives listed for the VFW organization describe its purpose - "To preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members; to assist worthy comrades; to perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their widows and orphans; to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America"; and

WHEREAS, On March 28, 1920, the VFW Chateau Cantigny Post No. 367 was formed; its name was chosen by the veterans who organized the post; after much discussion, and being that most of the men present served with the 1st Division and saw action at the Cantigny Woods, it was decided to name the post after the city of Cantigny, France; the 1st Division's Headquarters was in a castle, thus the Chateau, and with the approval of the Mayor of Cantigny, the name became Chateau Cantigny Post; John Baron served as the first commander of the post which had 38 charter members; and

WHEREAS, The original members were John E. Barron, Thomas Barron, Albert H. Reinsch, Edward G. Reinsch, Carl H. Johnson, Joseph L. Blair, Richard L. Carhart, Walter H. Schlimm, Michael A. Zoran, William Reilly, Frank J. Reichmann, Martin Ryan, E. Palometakis, Frank D'Arcy, Elvis Hamilton, John G. Streider, Joseph W. Jones, William D. Hartley, Charles G. Benham, W.H. Hinkel, H. Dunyham, Charles Klinger, Frank DeLong, Edwin A. Nixon, George J. Nahas, Charles Gregory, Lilas Apgan, John W. Huston, Duane Dibble, Arthur Nachinson, Fred Davis, Albert L. Gates, Harold C. Brehm, Walter H. Brehm, Ole Olson, Henry F. Miller, John Wanonwiez, and Charles Sheridan; and

WHEREAS, The VFW Chateau Cantigny Post 367 (Post) has two member factions, VFW members and the Ladies Auxiliary members, who operate the kitchen and catering services; the Post provides its 2,400 members and the general public with weekly social functions for all ages in a spacious, comfortable, and friendly atmosphere; and

WHEREAS, The Post's main goal and objective is helping fellow veterans and their families and promoting patriotism; the post presents flags to high schools and nursing homes, performs military honors at funerals, honors all patriotic days and participates in parades and school functions, sponsors youth athletic teams, sent 1,325 packages to the troops in Iraq and continues to donate to other groups that are now sending packages to the troops, and donates to homeless shelters, to name a few; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Joliet's VFW Chateau Cantigny Post 367 on the occasion of its 85th anniversary and we truly appreciate their diligence and dedication to veterans and their community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to VFW Chateau Cantigny Post 367 as an expression of our admiration and esteem.