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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives are pleased to celebrate the momentous | ||||||
| 4 | occasions in the lives of the citizens of this State; and | ||||||
| 5 | WHEREAS, In 2026, Don and Jennie Latham celebrate their | ||||||
| 6 | 70th wedding anniversary, a platinum milestone that serves as | ||||||
| 7 | a profound testament to their enduring love, faith, and | ||||||
| 8 | devotion; and | ||||||
| 9 | WHEREAS, Don and Jennie Latham's remarkable journey began | ||||||
| 10 | in an industrial working-class neighborhood on the West Side | ||||||
| 11 | of Chicago, where two adolescents, Jennie, the independent | ||||||
| 12 | only child of Italian immigrants, and Don, one of many | ||||||
| 13 | siblings in a spirited Irish family, first met at Saint | ||||||
| 14 | Charles Borromeo Catholic School; and | ||||||
| 15 | WHEREAS, Don and Jennie Latham's relationship was fostered | ||||||
| 16 | when a young parish priest started a high school social club, | ||||||
| 17 | creating a close friend group of which they were both a part | ||||||
| 18 | and cherished memories of sock hops, picnics, hayrides, and | ||||||
| 19 | trips to Starved Rock that laid the foundation for a lifetime | ||||||
| 20 | of partnership; and | ||||||
| 21 | WHEREAS, Don and Jennie Latham married in 1956, made their | ||||||
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| 1 | home in Mount Prospect, and eventually raised five children in | ||||||
| 2 | a household defined by faith, the adventures of their | ||||||
| 3 | children, and a fierce dedication to education that saw their | ||||||
| 4 | children become first-generation college graduates, all five | ||||||
| 5 | with advanced degrees; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, Don and Jennie Latham have been pillars of their | ||||||
| 7 | community, with Jennie providing spiritual comfort by bringing | ||||||
| 8 | communion to nursing home residents, and Don, a talented | ||||||
| 9 | woodworker who proudly served in the Korean War, sharing his | ||||||
| 10 | craftsmanship through the creation of Uncle Sam whirligigs for | ||||||
| 11 | his neighbors; and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, Throughout seven decades, Don and Jennie Latham | ||||||
| 13 | have remained steadfast through every joy and sorrow, finding | ||||||
| 14 | beauty in the simple pleasures of gardening, watching | ||||||
| 15 | squirrels, and sharing meals with their family and friends; | ||||||
| 16 | therefore, be it | ||||||
| 17 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 18 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 19 | we congratulate Don and Jennie Latham on the occasion of their | ||||||
| 20 | 70th wedding anniversary and extend to them our most sincere | ||||||
| 21 | wishes for continued health, happiness, and peace; and be it | ||||||
| 22 | further | ||||||
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| 1 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 2 | presented to Don and Jennie Latham as a symbol of our respect | ||||||
| 3 | and esteem. | ||||||