HR0716 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0716 LRB097 19109 GRL 64349 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Edward Joseph "Ed" Derwinski was a son of Illinois, having been born in Chicago on September 15, 1926; and

WHEREAS, As a member of the "Greatest Generation", Ed Derwinski served his country in World War II, assigned to duty on the Pacific front; after the surrender of Japan aboard the "U.S.S. Missouri", he continued his time in uniform during the occupation of Japan; and

WHEREAS, In his return to civilian life after World War II, Ed Derwinski was a real-life counterpart of George Bailey in the 1946 classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life"; after the death of his father, Ed led his brothers to carry on the family building and loan, West Pullman Savings and Loan, a community savings institution; and

WHEREAS, After completing his education at Loyola University, Ed Derwinski joined the Illinois House of Representatives as an elected member of the 70th General Assembly (1957-58) representing the 24th Legislative District; and

WHEREAS, In the 1958 general election, Ed Derwinski ran for and was elected by his fellow Illinoisans to the United States House of Representatives, representing the 4th Congressional District; as a congressman, he served the State of Illinois and the people of the United States for 24 years, from 1959 until 1993; and

WHEREAS, As a congressman, Ed Derwinski specialized in foreign affairs, becoming a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; in this role, he fought tirelessly to keep the hope of freedom alive in the countries then trapped behind the Iron Curtain; he was repeatedly honored by his fellow Polish-Americans for his advocacy on behalf of the people of Poland, as well as the other sovereign nations of Central and Eastern Europe that, at that time, groaned under the heel of Soviet and Yugoslavian communist occupation; and

WHEREAS, After leaving the U.S. House at the end of the 97th Congress, Ed Derwinski joined the Reagan Administration in a variety of roles, including Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, where he oversaw Ronald Reagan's military-aid program as the Soviet empire approached its collapse; and

WHEREAS, When the U.S. Veterans Administration was elevated to Cabinet status in March of 1989, newly-elected President George H.W. Bush appointed Under Secretary Ed Derwinski to be the nation's first Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA), giving this son of Chicago a seat at the White House cabinet table; and

WHEREAS, Ed Derwinski served as USDVA Secretary from March 15, 1989, until September 26, 1992; this period saw not only the culmination of his lifelong fight to tear down the Berlin Wall and bring freedom to Poland and other countries of the Soviet empire, but also the significant expansion of his Department as it took on new responsibilities associated with the aging of his fellow World War II veterans and growth in the health-care and other benefits that his country would provide to armed forces veterans of the Cold War and beyond; and

WHEREAS, After conclusion of his federal service in 1992, Ed Derwinski returned to the Chicago area to live in retirement, enjoying the companionship of his second wife, Bonita "Bonnie" Derwinski, his daughter, Maureen Quattrocki, his son, Michael Derwinski, his step-daughter, Maggie Hickey, and his step-son, Kevin Hickey; and

WHEREAS, After a life spent fruitfully and triumphantly in the service of his country, Illinois State Representative, U.S. Representative, and Secretary Ed Derwinski passed away on January 15, 2012; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the death of our friend and colleague, Edward J. "Ed" Derwinski, and salute his impeccable record of service to this nation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we pledge to continue to remember and cherish in our hearts the time in uniform spent by all of our American veterans; our country is what it is because of these men and women; Ed was their leader for a time, but all of them, together, are our leaders; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the wife of this great patriot, Bonita "Bonnie" Derwinski, his daughter, Maureen Quattrocki, his son, Michael Derwinski, his step-daughter, Maggie Hickey, and his step-son, Kevin Hickey.