HJ0088eng 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0088 Engrossed LRB095 18853 KXB 44983 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 88

WHEREAS, In 1885, the 34th Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to establish a soldiers' and sailors' home for disabled Illinois veterans of the Mexican and Civil Wars; and

WHEREAS, On June 1, 1886, Governor Richard Oglesby decided on Quincy as the site of the new home; the home is the largest and oldest veterans home of the four located in Illinois, and one of the larger and older veterans homes in the country; and

WHEREAS, Originally named "Soldiers and Sailors Home" until 1974, it is currently home to nearly 600 veterans and their spouses; over 70 of the 102 counties in Illinois are represented within the current membership; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Veterans' Home at Quincy is responsible for providing economical and quality long-term care for veterans and their spouses, which includes domiciliary care, intermediate care, and skilled care; and

WHEREAS, Sunset Cemetery is located on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy; and

WHEREAS, Over 7,000 veterans and spouses are laid to rest at Sunset Cemetery, dating back to the Civil War, including a large number of Medal of Honor recipients; and

WHEREAS, A section of U.S. Route 24 runs through Quincy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the section of U.S. Route 24 that runs from the Mississippi River to the junction of U.S. Route 24 and Interstate 172, north of Quincy, be designated "The Veterans Medal of Honor Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State regulations, appropriate signs giving notice of the name; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation and to the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.