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92_HR0902
LRB9216848RHrh
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The Illinois National Guard and its militia
3 forebears have faithfully served the State and the nation for
4 more than 300 years, quickly answering the call to arms with
5 pride and professionalism; and
6 WHEREAS, Five brigades of Illinois volunteers, including
7 Abraham Lincoln, were mustered in April 1832 to defend
8 settlers and end hostilities during the Black Hawk War; and
9 WHEREAS, Illinois provided the Union with leaders such as
10 President Lincoln and Generals Grant, Logan, and McClernand,
11 as well as more than 250,000 men during the Civil War, the
12 largest contingent of any state; and
13 WHEREAS, Illinois was the first state to respond to the
14 Federal call for troops and mustered ten regiments, including
15 Poet Carl Sandburg and the Naval Militia for service in the
16 Spanish American War; and
17 WHEREAS, The Illinois National Guard was called for
18 service to pursue Pancho Villa and restore peace on the
19 Mexican Border in 1916; and
20 WHEREAS, 25,000 Illinois National Guard troops were
21 mobilized during World War I and nine soldiers of the 33rd
22 Infantry Division received Medals of Honor for their heroic
23 conduct; and
24 WHEREAS, The 33rd Infantry Division helped recapture the
25 Philippines, and Illinois National Guard units served in all
26 theatres of World War II; and
27 WHEREAS, Illinois National Guard units served in both the
28 Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War; and
29 WHEREAS, In 1993, when the Mississippi River flooded its
30 banks, 7,000 members of the Illinois National Guard provided
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1 assistance to their fellow Illinoisans who were displaced;
2 and
3 WHEREAS, In recent years, 1,200 Illinois Army and Air
4 National Guard members have been deployed to support
5 operations in Macedonia, Kosovo, and Iraq; and
6 WHEREAS, Since late September 2001, when Governor Ryan
7 activated nearly 300 soldiers to augment security forces at
8 the State's 11 commercial airports, this vital reserve
9 component with a unique dual, State, and federal mission has
10 played as increasingly greater role in defending the homeland
11 and contributing to the nation's war on terrorism; therefore,
12 be it
13 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15 we designate May 16, 2002 as Illinois National Guard Day in
16 recognition of the dedication, commitment, and service of the
17 men and women of the Illinois National Guard to the residents
18 of the State of Illinois and the United States; and be it
19 further
20 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
21 presented to Major General David Harris, The Adjutant
22 General of the Illinois National Guard.