HR0597 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0597 LRB103 39287 MST 69441 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The work of Jan Craig Scruggs is familiar to every person who knows about the Vietnam War and its aftermath; and

WHEREAS, Jan Scruggs, born on March 11, 1950 in Maryland, was of an age to serve in this most divisive of all conflicts; and

WHEREAS, Assigned to the 12th Infantry Regiment as a corporal, Jan Scruggs served in-country for prolonged tours of duty; wounded in action, he was awarded the Purple Heart; for valor in action, he was repeatedly decorated for his services; and

WHEREAS, As a civilian after leaving the United States Army, Jan Scruggs fully experienced many of the challenges that Vietnam War veterans saw when they returned home; the overall pattern of public life in the United States in the late 1970s sought to ignore this war and to diminish or even belittle the men and women who had fought in it; and

WHEREAS, To counter this pattern, on April 27, 1979, Jan Scruggs and a small group of fellow veterans began the work of creating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) to erect one or more tangible memorials to serve as memories of the services performed by veterans of this war; and

WHEREAS, To the surprise of skeptics, Jan Scruggs's advocacy generated an expression of grass-roots national determination that the services of Vietnam War veterans be recognized and honored; this movement led to the allocation of one of the most significant locations in Washington, D.C., the National Mall, home of installations such as the Lincoln Memorial, as a suitable place for a Vietnam Veterans Memorial; and

WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated on Veterans Day 1982, carries the names of more than 58,000 Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS, After the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was completed, Jan Scruggs rededicated himself to the work of maintaining and expanding the work of community remembrance in locations throughout America for Vietnam veterans, all veterans of the United States armed services, and all persons who have fallen in defense of the United States of America and its communities, including persons who made the ultimate sacrifice on and after 9/11/01; and

WHEREAS, The people of Illinois owe an enduring debt of gratitude to Jan Scruggs and his work, and it is agreed that his work, and the work of his comrades in and out of arms, to remember these sacrifices must never be forgotten; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Jan Craig Scruggs for his work on behalf of his fellow Vietnam veterans, his fellow United States veterans of all wars, and especially his work on behalf of the people he had to leave behind when he came home; and be it further

RESOLVED, That as we recognize and express our gratitude to Jan Craig Scruggs, we are also recognizing and expressing our gratitude to every warrior who has fought for America or who has worn any of the uniforms that signify service to our country, especially those who have been wounded in this service, and particularly to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jan Scruggs as a symbol of our respect and esteem.