SJ0050 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0050 LRB101 14489 MST 63673 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, World War II, the most widespread war in history, lasted from 1939 until 1945; and

WHEREAS, The United States entered the war in 1941, following an attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese fighter planes; and

WHEREAS, Over 16 million Americans served their country and the Allied powers over the course of the war; and

WHEREAS, The generation of men and women who served our country in World War II has been called the "greatest generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that is awarded by the United States government; and

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is presented by the President of the United States in the name of Congress; and

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; and

WHEREAS, More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to our nation's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast guardsmen since the creation of the award in 1861; and

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor was awarded to 353 Americans during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Only two of those 353 Americans are alive today; and

WHEREAS, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and Hershel Woodrow Williams of West Virginia served their country with conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life and therefore deserve the gratitude of the American people; and

WHEREAS, The President of the United States has the sole authority to designate a state funeral; and

WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States may pass a Concurrent Resolution to allow an individual to lie in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Historically, the President of the United States has designated state funerals for former presidents, generals, and other extraordinary Americans; and

WHEREAS, Our nation is currently divided and yearns for a unifying national event; and

WHEREAS, Designating a state funeral when the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful way for the American people to unite and honor all 16 million soldiers, sailors, and airmen who served in our Armed Forces from 1941 to 1945; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States to take all necessary measures to ensure the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II be offered a state funeral, including, but not limited to, having the option to lie in state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President of the United States, the President and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the chair of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Illinois Congressional Delegation.