HR1559

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate Edward A. Bilotti 
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of Midlothian on the occasion of being awarded a Bronze Star, 
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Purple Heart, and Combat Infantryman's Badge in April of 2008 
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for his service in the U.S. Army during World War II; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Edward A. Bilotti was born in Blue Island on 
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November 22, 1925; he attended St. Benedict Grammar School and 
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Blue Island Community High School; in 1941, he and his family 
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moved to Midlothian; he worked with his father in his father's 
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shoe repair shop until he went into the United States Army; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Edward A. Bilotti was drafted into the U.S. Army 
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on April 18, 1944; he was placed into the famous 10th Mountain 
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Division, 87th Regiment, Company B; after going through basic 
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training at Camp Joseph T. Robinson near Little Rock, Arkansas, 
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he joined the 10th Division at Camp Swift near Austin, Texas, 
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where he participated in mountain training; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In December of 1944, Edward A. Bilotti and the  
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10th Mountain Division left Newport News, Virginia aboard the 
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ocean liner West Point and embarked for Italy; upon arrival in 
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Naples, Italy, Mr. Bilotti and his division took an Italian 
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ship to Leghorn, where they got into trucks and traveled up and 
 


 






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down the hills of Italy; and

 
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    WHEREAS, On April 17, 1945, during a period of heavy 
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fighting against the Germans in the Le Coste area, Edward A. 
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Bilotti was severely wounded after a mortar round hit a tree; 
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after suffering shrapnel wounds in his back, shoulder, head, 
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and legs, he was taken to a station hospital behind the front 
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lines and treated; the fighting that occurred on that day would 
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be known as the division's bloodiest day, with 290 soldiers 
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killed in action and 1,059 wounded; Mr. Bilotti received the 
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Purple Heart for the wounds that he suffered during action in 
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Italy; and
 
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    WHEREAS, After receiving his injuries, Edward A. Bilotti 
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sailed home aboard the hospital ship Thistle and docked in 
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Charleston, South Carolina; he then traveled to Topeka, Kansas 
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for rehabilitation, then to Fort Custer, Michigan for 
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convalescence; after recovering from his wounds, he was 
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discharged from the U.S. Army; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After his discharge, Edward A. Bilotti and his 
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brother Al opened a shoe store; after splitting apart, Mr. 
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Bilotti opened a shoe repair shop in Palos Heights, operating 
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the shop until he sold it in 1995; today, he still keeps active 
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at a group at St. Christopher Parish called the Coffee House, 
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which meets with handicapped adults in the Midlothian area once 
 


 






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a month to socialize; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Edward A. Bilotti has been a lifetime member of 
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the Disabled American Veterans Association; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Edward A. Bilotti married Catherine Kendall on May 
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7, 1949 at St. Christopher Church; together, they have three 
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children, Richard, Margaret, and Diane, and two grandchildren, 
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Patrick and Gina; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Edward A. Bilotti serves as a model of patriotism, 
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integrity, and courage for the people of the State of Illinois; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Edward A. Bilotti of Midlothian on the occasion of 
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being awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat 
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Infantryman's Badge in April of 2008 for his service in the 
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U.S. Army during World War II and wish him many happy and 
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healthy years to come; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Edward A. Bilotti as a symbol of our esteem and 
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respect.