HR0307 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0307 LRB102 18495 ECR 26653 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives would like to congratulate Highland VFW Post 5694 on its 75th Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 was established on February 24, 1946, and its Auxiliary was founded on July 28, 1946; and

WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 originated when the local World War I veterans returned home; once World War II started, most of the membership returned to service, and with few members remaining, the Post lost its charter due to lack of participation; and

WHEREAS, When World War II ended, the returning members needed a place to gather and to talk about their experiences; they decided to meet at a place called Bucket's Tavern; this location became the meeting place of a group of young men interested in forming a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Highland; and

WHEREAS, The necessary steps were then taken to form Highland VFW Post 5694; the first recorded meeting of the Post was held at the Highland Public School gymnasium on February 24, 1946; and

WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 was instituted with approximately 200 members on the charter; this was a group of energetic young men who wasted no time starting fundraising projects, which included dances being held at the Lindendale Park ballroom; and

WHEREAS, In early 1948, negotiations were started to purchase property consisting of a building, a lake, and approximately four acres; the final purchase was completed in August of 1948, and a new organization named Oversea's Veterans of Highland, Inc. was formed; Highland VFW Post 5694 served as the parent organization with all Post members automatically becoming corporate members; and

WHEREAS, On March 10, 1951, a major disaster struck when a defective chimney caused a fire that completely destroyed Highland VFW Post 5694's building; a rebuild plan was then put into place, and the membership responded in excellent fashion with physical labor; the community did likewise with donations of money and materials; in September of the same year, the rebuild was complete, and a grand reopening was held; and

WHEREAS, Between 1951 and 1967, there were quite a few new additions to Highland VFW Post 5694 after the rebuild; a monument was purchased for the comrades who lost their lives in World War II; a 105 Howitzer Artillery weapon was added, and an additional 14 acres of land were added towards the development of a park; additions were added inside the Post building as well, with the installation of six bowling alley lanes; one final addition came in the form of a jet plane that was mounted outside as a dedication to the memory of those comrades who lost their lives in the Korean War; and

WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 has always placed a special emphasis on community service, hosting annual Christmas programs, Easter egg hunts, and trips to Major League Baseball games in St. Louis; and

WHEREAS, Other contributions to the community have included donations to furnish a room at the local hospital, building baseball fields for boys of the community to use, and providing special lighting equipment for the Highland Fire Department Emergency truck; smaller donations were also made, which included donating flags for schools and churches and Christmas baskets for the needy; and

WHEREAS, There has never been a year that Highland VFW Post 5694 has not donated to national organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, March of Dimes, United Cerebral Palsy, Cancer Fund, and many more worthy causes; and

WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 had peak membership in the early 1970s, including hitting a high of 510 members during the years 1973 and 1974; sadly, many members have passed away, and the current membership stands at 250; and

WHEREAS, In 2020, the Highland VFW Post 5694 experienced significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, in March of 2021, fish fries with limited attendance were resumed, and the members look forward to coming back strong as more restrictions are being lifted; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of the VFW shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical and educational, to preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members, to assist worthy comrades, to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead and assist their widows and orphans, to maintain true allegiance to the Government of the United States of America and fidelity to its Constitution and laws, to foster patriotism, to maintain and extend the institutions of American Freedom and to preserve and defend the United States from all its enemies; and

WHEREAS, Over the last 75 years, the Highland VFW Post 5694 has endeavored to uphold these principles and pledges to continue to do so as well as push forward for community service; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Highland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5694 on their 75th anniversary and thank them for their service to the community and the country; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Highland VFW Post 5694 as a symbol of our esteem and respect.