HR1184 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1184 LRB096 22160 GRL 40847 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Gilbert C. Thiel of Grayslake on the occasion of being honored by Squadrons and Shipmates for his distinguished service during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Squadrons and Shipmates is an organization founded to reunite those serving aboard the aircraft carriers USS Midway and USS Franklin D. Roosevelt; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Thiel served aboard the USS Midway from 1942 to 1946 as an aviation machinist mate and flight deck inspector; he enlisted in the National Guard first, and then joined the U.S. Navy while he was working at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago as a cashier; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Thiel is believed to be the oldest living World War II veteran; he is a plank owner of the USS Midway, as he was aboard the carrier when it was commissioned on September 10, 1945; and

WHEREAS, Gilbert Thiel's family, which includes his loving wife, Gladys, his step-children, Sarah Mider, Rebecca Rikje, and Mark Humage, and his step-grandchildren, Jessica Thayer, Luke Albrecht, Ryan Rikje, Reva Rikje, Nicholas Castagna, and Hannah Mider, are undoubtedly proud of Mr. Thiel and his many accomplishments; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Gilbert C. Thiel of Grayslake on the occasion of being honored by Squadrons and Shipmates and wish them success and happiness in the future; and be it further

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