HR0711 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0711 LRB098 15163 GRL 50139 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Vietnam veteran Herschel Luckinbill led efforts to bring the Vietnam Moving Wall back to Aurora for the first time in 24 years; and

WHEREAS, Herschel Luckinbill is known for accompanying World War II veterans on Honor Flights to Washington D.C. and leading numerous other veterans' activities; and

WHEREAS, Herschel Luckinbill, who served on the first American ship to receive gunfire during the Vietnam War, has said that having the wall come to Aurora means everything for the local veterans; and

WHEREAS, Herschel Luckinbill led the efforts to bring the wall to Aurora as a way to honor his fallen shipmates; and

WHEREAS, The Moving Wall is engraved with the names of 58,282 who perished in the Vietnam War or are still unaccounted for (Prisoners of War and Missing in Action); the 254-foot wall is a 3/5 size mobile replica of the Washington D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial; and

WHEREAS, The Moving Wall was conceived and built by three California-based Vietnam vets who wished to publicly share the emotional power and experience that one of them felt during the 1982 dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; and

WHEREAS, Herschel Luckinbill arranged for the Moving Wall to be on display at the West Aurora High School practice soccer fields from November 7 to November 11, 2013; and

WHEREAS, The Moving Wall was escorted into the West Aurora High School soccer facilities by more than 200 motorcycle riding veterans and volunteers on November 7, 2013; the opening ceremonies for the Moving Wall began on November 8, 2013 at 10 A.M.; and

WHEREAS, A ceremony was held at the Moving Wall on November 9, 2013 to recognize and honor families who have lost loved ones in war; a non-denominational healing service was held on November 10, 2013 at the Moving Wall; and

WHEREAS, The Aurora Veterans Day Parade made a stop at the Moving Wall during its route on November 11, 2013; a wreath laying ceremony for all branches of the military was held at the Moving Wall before the closing ceremonies at dusk on November 11, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Two recipients of the Medal of Honor were present and spoke during the Moving Wall ceremonies; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers filled a nearby field with over 2000 American flags, deemed the "healing field"; and

WHEREAS, Numerous veterans visited the Moving Wall in remembrance of fallen colleagues and friends and were noticeably emotional during the 5-day event; and

WHEREAS, Between 100,000 and 200,000 people visited the Moving Wall during the 5-day memorial; more than 1,000 volunteers worked 45 different shifts to make the event possible; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor Herschel Luckinbill for his service to our country and recognize his continued work to recognize the service and sacrifices of Illinois veterans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Herschel Luckinbill as an expression of our esteem and respect.