HR0803 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0803 LRB094 15940 HSS 51242 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Amy Oxford of Harrisburg and her mother, Kathy Williams of Eldorado, began the Southern Illinois Yellow Ribbon Campaign on March 19, 2003; and

WHEREAS, The Southern Illinois Yellow Ribbon Campaign is dedicated to filling the needs and wants of overseas military personnel and their families by sending personalized care packages, cards, and letters; and

WHEREAS, The organization serves as a clearinghouse for those who want to send care packages to the troops; each box is packed according to individual wants and needs that service members indicate on questionnaires provided in initial welcome packages; and

WHEREAS, The large number of requests for care packages convinced the leaders of the Southern Illinois Yellow Ribbon Campaign to grow into a national effort; and

WHEREAS, The Campaign has received requests from over 2,500 troops serving overseas for care packages containing their favorite foods, phone cards, toiletries, and other items; and

WHEREAS, Funds for the care packages and postage are procured through fundraising efforts such as the "Holiday Hugs for Our Heroes" Christmas fundraiser; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Oxford and Ms. Williams were honored as part of "VOICES: One voice can lead to a chorus for change", a program sponsored by Charming Shoppes Inc., and the Montel Williams Show, which recognizes people who work to make a difference in their community; and

WHEREAS, The Yellow Ribbon Campaign received $20,000 from VOICES to help the group pay for postage for the care packages; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Amy Oxford and Kathy Williams on receiving the VOICES award, and we thank them for creating and maintaining the Yellow Ribbon Campaign with its tireless support of the men and women who bravely defend our freedom overseas; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Ms. Oxford and Ms. Williams as an expression of our gratitude for the service they are providing.