Full Text of SJR0048 99th General Assembly
SJ0048 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
| | SJ0048 | | LRB099 20973 MST 45944 r |
|
| 1 | | SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, It is with great humility that the Illinois | 3 | | General Assembly has
the opportunity to pay respect and tribute | 4 | | to great individuals who have served
our country; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Seven Witczak brothers served in the United States | 6 | | Armed Forces; five served
during World War II and two in the | 7 | | Korean War; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, The Witczak brothers are Joseph "Joker",
Anthony | 9 | | "Tony", John, Casimir Maurer, Francis "Boy", Thomas "Junior", | 10 | | and Edward Sr.; and
| 11 | | WHEREAS, The Witczak brothers were lifelong residents of La | 12 | | Salle County; they grew up during
the Great Depression and knew | 13 | | the meaning of honor and
hard work; Anthony "Tony" Witczak, the | 14 | | last surviving brother, began by
delivering newspapers for the | 15 | | News Tribune out of La Salle; during World War II, he
drove | 16 | | Higgins Boats in the Pacific Ocean despite having never driven | 17 | | a car; and
| 18 | | WHEREAS, The Witczak brothers were separated up by branch, | 19 | | job, and location
throughout World War II but kept in close | 20 | | contact through letters; they had numerous opportunities to | 21 | | meet up when their missions allowed; Anthony
Witczak recalls |
| | | SJ0048 | - 2 - | LRB099 20973 MST 45944 r |
|
| 1 | | this happening mostly at Pearl Harbor; and
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The story of the Witczak brothers is an | 3 | | astonishing and
humbling one of commitment to their country and | 4 | | their family; most families
that had multiple members overseas | 5 | | bravely serving
their country did not have them all return | 6 | | safely to the United States as all of the Witczak brothers did; | 7 | | therefore, be it
| 8 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL | 9 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES | 10 | | CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Route 251 as it travels | 11 | | from Tonica to Mendota as the "Witczak Brothers Memorial | 12 | | Highway"; and be it further | 13 | | RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation | 14 | | is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with | 15 | | State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs | 16 | | giving notice of the name "Witczak Brothers Memorial Highway"; | 17 | | and be it further
| 18 | | RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 19 | | presented to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of | 20 | | Transportation and the family of the Witczak brothers.
|
|