HR1288 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1288 LRB100 24172 MST 43346 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On November 4, 1943, eight members of the American Legion met at Luther B. Easley Post 128 in Salem to discuss ideas about how to help our soldiers readjust to civilian life after the current World War was won; and

WHEREAS, These ideas were written down on dinner napkins by Omar J. McMackin of Salem, Earl W. Merritt of Salem, former Governor John Stelle of McLeansboro, Dr. Leonard W. Esper of Springfield, George H. Bauer of Effingham, William R. McCauley of Olney, James P. Ringley of Lemont, and A. L. Starshak of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, These ideas were taken to Washington, D.C. by Governor Stelle and included in the drafting of the longhand version of ideas from Legion members around the United States during meetings at the Mayflower Hotel; and

WHEREAS, Officially known as the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, the bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 10th by ranking Democrat and Republican members John Rankin and Edith Nourse Rogers, and introduced in the U.S. Senate on January 11th with Senate sub-committee chair Bennett Champ Clark of Missouri and joined by Senators Tom Connelly of Texas, David I. Walsh of Massachusetts, Walter F. George of Georgia, Owen Brewster of Maine, Chan Gurney of South Dakota, Scott Lucas and C. Wayland Brooks of Illinois, Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan, and Hattie Caraway of Arkansas; and

WHEREAS, The Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, more commonly known as the G.I. Bill of Rights, was passed by the U.S. Senate on June 12, 1944 and the U.S. House of Representatives on June 13, 1944; it was signed into law by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on June 22, 1944; and

WHEREAS, June 22, 2019 will be the 75th anniversary of the G.I. Bill of Rights; and

WHEREAS, This historic piece of legislation is a fine example of things being born, built, or grown in Illinois that are worthy of recognition as part of the Illinois bicentennial; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the American Legion on this historic accomplishment; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the National American Legion Commander Brett P. Reistad and to the American Legions of the members who were instrumental in the "birth" of the G.I. Bill in Illinois.