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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, On the night of June 5-6, 1944, more than 6,500 
3elite paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, the first 
4of the first, spearheaded the American airborne assault on the 
5Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France with the critical 
6missions of securing four causeways leading inland from the 
7beach codenamed 'Utah' and neutralizing enemy resistance in 
8advance of the amphibious landings at dawn on D-Day morning by 
9the 4th Infantry Division; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Many of the paratroopers were mis-dropped from 
11their designated drop zones; before dawn, a small group led by 
12Major John P. Stopka, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 
13attacked and captured a strategically sited and important 
14German garrison headquarters and strongpoint at Marmion Farm 
15on the outskirts of Ravenoville village; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Major Stopka made the decision to hold the farm 
17until relief arrived from Utah Beach, thereby denying enemy 
18movement against the northern shoulder of the 101st assault 
19area and the critical exits; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Throughout D-Day, other mis-dropped paratroopers 
21from mixed elements of the 101st, even some from the 82nd 
22Airborne, arrived at the farm, thereby strengthening the 
 
 
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1American defense against repeated enemy counter-attacks; the 
2paratroopers held firm until relieved on the early morning of 
3June 7, 1944 by lead elements of 4th Infantry Division; and
 
4    WHEREAS, On June 6, 2012, the Eternal Heroes Memorial was 
5inaugurated in Ravenoville to honor the Raveno Boys, whose 
6heroic stand made a significant contribution to the success of 
7the amphibious landings on Utah Beach and ultimately the 
8Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Among their number were five gallant sons of 
10Illinois, Thomas F. Cahill Jr. of Cook County, Clifford S. 
11Emerick of Washington County, John A. Powers of Peoria County, 
12Joseph P. Powers of Peoria County, and Louis J. Venditti of 
13Cook County; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
15HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
16we declare June 6-7, 2024 as Eternal Heroes Memorial Days in 
17memory of the Illinois Raveno Boys; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
19presented to the Eternal Heroes Memorial as a token of our 
20esteem and respect.