Full Text of HR0357 102nd General Assembly
HR0357 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, World War II, the most widespread war in history, | 3 | | lasted from 1939 until 1945; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, The United States entered the war in 1941, | 5 | | following an attack on Pearl Harbor
by Japanese fighter | 6 | | planes; and
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Over 16 million Americans served their country | 8 | | and the Allied powers over the
course of the war; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, The generation of men and women who served our | 10 | | country in World War II has
been called the "greatest | 11 | | generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and | 12 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest military | 13 | | decoration that is awarded by the
United States government; | 14 | | and | 15 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is presented by the President | 16 | | of the United States in the
name of Congress; and | 17 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members | 18 | | of the United States Armed
Forces who distinguish themselves | 19 | | through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of |
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| 1 | | life
above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action | 2 | | against an enemy of the United States,
while engaged in | 3 | | military operations involving conflict with an opposing | 4 | | foreign force, or while
serving with friendly forces engaged | 5 | | in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which
| 6 | | the United States is not a belligerent party; and | 7 | | WHEREAS, More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded | 8 | | to our nation's bravest
soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, | 9 | | and coast guardsmen since the creation of the award in 1861; | 10 | | and | 11 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor was awarded to 353 Americans | 12 | | during World War II; and | 13 | | WHEREAS, Only one of those 353 Americans is alive today; | 14 | | and | 15 | | WHEREAS, Hershel Woodrow Williams of West Virginia is the | 16 | | last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II; he | 17 | | served his country with
conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity | 18 | | at the risk of life and therefore deserves the gratitude of the
| 19 | | American people; and | 20 | | WHEREAS, The President of the United States has the sole | 21 | | authority to designate a state
funeral; and |
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States may pass a | 2 | | Concurrent Resolution to allow
an individual to lie in state | 3 | | in the rotunda of the United States Capitol; and
| 4 | | WHEREAS, Historically, the President of the United States | 5 | | has designated state funerals for
former presidents, generals, | 6 | | and other extraordinary Americans; and
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Our nation is currently divided and yearns for a | 8 | | unifying national event; and | 9 | | WHEREAS, Designating a state funeral when the last | 10 | | surviving World War II Medal of Honor
recipient dies would be a | 11 | | wonderful way for the American people to unite and honor all 16 | 12 | | million
soldiers, sailors, and airmen who served in our Armed | 13 | | Forces from 1941 to 1945; therefore, be it
| 14 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | 15 | | HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | 16 | | we urge the President of the United States and the Congress of | 17 | | the United States to take all necessary measures to ensure the | 18 | | last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II be | 19 | | offered a state funeral, including, but not limited to, having | 20 | | the option to lie in state in the rotunda of the United States | 21 | | Capitol; and be it further
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 2 | | delivered to the President of the United States, the
President | 3 | | and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and | 4 | | the Clerk of the United
States House of Representatives, the | 5 | | chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the chair
| 6 | | of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Illinois | 7 | | Congressional Delegation.
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