Full Text of HJR0086 96th General Assembly
HJ0086 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General | 3 |
| Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals | 4 |
| who served our country and in doing so have gone above and | 5 |
| beyond the call of duty to take part in truly heroic tasks; and
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| WHEREAS,
Of the millions of men and women who have served | 7 |
| this country, whether in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or | 8 |
| Coast Guard, only 3,447 have ever been awarded the highest | 9 |
| military decoration awarded by the United States government, | 10 |
| the Congressional Medal of Honor; and
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| WHEREAS, The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded for | 12 |
| conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one's life | 13 |
| above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action | 14 |
| against any enemy of the United States; while engaged in | 15 |
| military operations involving conflict with an opposing | 16 |
| foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces | 17 |
| engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in | 18 |
| which the United States is not a belligerent party; and
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| WHEREAS, It is beyond honor for an individual to be awarded | 20 |
| the Congressional Medal of Honor, distinguishing this | 21 |
| individual as a true American hero; and
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| WHEREAS, Sammy L. Davis, born in Dayton, Ohio, on November | 2 |
| 1st, 1946, and who resided in Illinois for many years, was | 3 |
| awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service and | 4 |
| conduct in Vietnam during the Vietnam War; and | 5 |
| WHEREAS, Sammy L. Davis was a private first class in the | 6 |
| United States Army, Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 4th Artillery, | 7 |
| 94th Infantry Division, at the time of his action which awarded | 8 |
| him the Congressional Medal of Honor, leading to his promotion | 9 |
| to Sergeant; and | 10 |
| WHEREAS, Sammy L. Davis was awarded the Congressional Medal | 11 |
| for his actions on November 18th, 1967, when his unit came | 12 |
| under enemy fire; injured, Private Davis risked his life to | 13 |
| fight off the enemy, and under heavy fire managed to fire | 14 |
| rounds from a burning howitzer on his own, and having pushed | 15 |
| back the enemy, Private Davis rescued his injured combats who | 16 |
| were no doubt alive because of his bravery; and | 17 |
| WHEREAS, Today, Sammy L. Davis, forced to retire from the | 18 |
| United States Army in 1984 because of injuries, works to make | 19 |
| sure the American message of freedom is never forgotten; | 20 |
| visiting school children, speaking at special events, and | 21 |
| telling his message to the countless troops that he continues | 22 |
| to visit; and
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| WHEREAS, Troops stationed all over the world from wars that | 2 |
| have passed and conflicts that are current, have written and | 3 |
| spoken of the meaningfulness and inspiration that they have and | 4 |
| continue to receive from meeting and speaking with Sammy L. | 5 |
| Davis; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 7 |
| NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE | 8 |
| SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that an appropriate plaque or sign be | 9 |
| placed at the Illinois rest area on Route 33 near Palestine, | 10 |
| honoring Sammy L. Davis, his triumphs and heroism, and his | 11 |
| dedication to the patriotic good of this country; and be it | 12 |
| further
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| RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation | 14 |
| is directed to erect, at a suitable location at the rest area, | 15 |
| consistent with State and federal regulations, an appropriate | 16 |
| plaque or sign giving recognition to Sammy L Davis; and be it | 17 |
| further | 18 |
| RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be | 19 |
| delivered to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of | 20 |
| Transportation, the Robinson V.F.W., and to Sammy L. Davis.
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