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HJ0110 |
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LRB094 19900 DRJ 57518 r |
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| HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Illinois State women have proudly served in |
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| defense of our Nation since the Civil War, despite their lack |
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| of military standing before the 1900s; and
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| WHEREAS, They served in all major conflicts in |
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| ever-increasing numbers, volunteering to preserve our freedom; |
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| and
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| WHEREAS, They served in expanding positions of |
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| responsibility from laundresses and cooks to administrators, |
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| from medical and technical personnel to full combatants; and
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| WHEREAS, Illinois State women contributed to establishing |
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| and maintaining our independence, preserving the Union, |
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| abolishing slavery, and advancing the cause of freedom and |
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| democracy around the world; and
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| WHEREAS, In times of conflict, State of Illinois women |
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| served the military as society permitted or as the situation |
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| demanded; and
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| WHEREAS, Women came forward to replace men as battlefield |
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| emergencies demanded and some even disguised their gender in |
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| order to serve; others masked their identity, risking their |
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| lives as couriers and intelligence agents; and
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| WHEREAS, The value of their contributions has finally been |
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| recognized by their ever-increasing integration and |
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| opportunities in the Armed Forces; and
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| WHEREAS, Women now make up over 15% of the active duty |
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| force and about 23% of the reserve force, totaling over 203,000 |
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| women soldiers; and
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