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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives wishes to
3 recognize the accomplishments of its distinguished residents
4 and their efforts to ensure that our country never forgets the
5 sacrifices made by the veterans of its Armed Forces; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Edward T. Meyers, Sr. of Joliet will celebrate his
7 90th birthday on October 28, 2009; and
 
8     WHEREAS, Mr. Meyers was born on October 28, 1919, in
9 Joliet; he is the youngest child of Charles Meyers and
10 Elizabeth (McGee) Myers; and
 
11     WHEREAS, When World War II broke out, Mr. Meyers tried to
12 enlist, but was initially refused because of his poor eyesight;
13 however, as the war escalated, he was later drafted into the
14 U.S. Army in 1943 and assigned to the 65th Signal Battalion's
15 Company A; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Mr. Meyers did not have any previous skills in the
17 communications field, but his high grades earned him an offer
18 to attend Officers' Candidate School, which he declined; he had
19 a natural knack for figuring out how both mechanical and
20 electrical devices worked and could install virtually
21 anything, a skill he still has today; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, During World War II, the 65th Signal Battalion
2 Company A was assigned to Germany, where Mr. Meyers served 2 of
3 his 3 years of service; and
 
4     WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Meyers became a truck driver
5 and married Virginia Hill; he also gained a step-daughter,
6 Judy, and the couple had a son, Edward Jr.; Edward Sr. later
7 became a dispatch supervisor for a trucking company; and
 
8     WHEREAS, In 1970, Edward T. Meyers, Sr. responded to a call
9 from 3 of his fellow veterans, Jimmy Ford, Troy Spear, and Jim
10 Alstatt, who were organizing a reunion of the 65th Signal
11 Battalion Company A, by attending and assisting with the
12 reunions; and
 
13     WHEREAS, The first reunion was held in 1970 at Mammoth
14 Cave, Kentucky and lasted 4 days; the reunion was a big
15 success, with 45 heroes and families in attendance; as time
16 went by, Mr. Meyers assumed more reunion duties and other
17 companies asked to join the Company A reunions, resulting in
18 the entire 65th Signal Battalion companies reuniting annually;
19 and
 
20     WHEREAS, The stories told at these reunions were very sad;
21 veterans wept as they remembered how some of their comrades

 

 

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1 died in action; some were killed by snipers while perched atop
2 poles repairing or installing lines as the 65th Signal
3 Companies forged ahead into enemy lines to establish
4 communications for approaching friendly troops; and
 
5     WHEREAS, These surviving veterans felt that the great bond
6 forged among them was due to their dependence on each other to
7 stay alive; and
 
8     WHEREAS, All were devoted to their country, but, on an
9 individual basis, would do anything for each other; the trust
10 and loyalty shared among them is unmatched, as is their respect
11 for each other; and
 
12     WHEREAS, In the late 1980s, the original organizers of the
13 reunions of the 65th Battalion Companies passed away, leaving
14 Edward T. Meyers, Sr. as the reunion's main organizer; in this
15 role, he would send notices to the newsletter, visit the city
16 chosen for the next reunion, review proposed contracts from
17 several hotels, and complete the agreement that would meet the
18 reunion's needs; he helped arrange the events to be held,
19 collect fees for the dinner, and help arrange the reunion's
20 video presentations, speakers, and entertainment; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Edward T. Meyers, Sr. has been attending and
22 organizing reunions of the 65th Signal Companies for 39 years;

 

 

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1 next year's reunion will mark his 40th year; and
 
2     WHEREAS, Edward T. Meyers, Sr. still lives independently at
3 his home in Joliet; he has always kept his wife, Virginia, who
4 passed away in 1990, in his heart; he still enjoys spending
5 time with his granddaughter, Kim, and his great-grandchildren,
6 Keara and Kayla; therefore, be it
 
7     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
8 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
9 congratulate Edward T. Meyers, Sr. on the occasion of his 90th
10 birthday and salute his 39 years of service and loyal work in
11 organizing reunions for the 65th Signal Battalion; and be it
12 further
 
13     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
14 presented to Edward Meyers, Sr. as a symbol of our esteem and
15 respect.