HR0205 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0205 LRB097 11277 GRL 53296 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Frank Woodruff Buckles, the longest surviving United States veteran of World War I, who passed away on February 27, 2011, at the age of 110; and

WHEREAS, Frank Buckles was born on February 1, 1901; at the age of 16, he witnessed the European theatre of World War I, serving as a Corporal in the United States Army; as an ambulance driver in France and Germany, he evacuated wounded soldiers from the horrific battlefield; and

WHEREAS, After World War I, Frank Buckles traveled widely, working for steamship companies; he was on business in Manila when the Philippines were occupied after the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941; he was imprisoned by occupying forces and lost more than 50 pounds before being liberated by an American airborne unit in February of 1945; and

WHEREAS, For his service during World War I, Frank Buckles received the World War I Victory Medal and qualified for four Overseas Service Bars; in 1941, he retroactively qualified for the Army of Occupation of Germany Medal due to his post-war service in Europe in 1919; in 1999, Buckles was further honored by the French Government and was awarded France's Legion d'Honneur; and

WHEREAS, Frank Buckles was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery; his funeral was attended by President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden; and

WHEREAS, Frank Buckles represents the generation of Americans that served and sacrificed during World War I, "The World to End All Wars", and was the last veteran among the more than 4.7 million Americans who had served in the armed forces of the Allied nations from April 6, 1917, when the United States entered World War I, to November 11, 1918, the date of the armistice; and

WHEREAS, 116,516 Americans serving in the armed forces gave their lives during World War I; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and the rest of a grateful nation, the passing of Frank Woodruff Buckles, and honor the lives of all who served during World War I; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Frank Woodruff Buckles' daughter, Susannah Flanagan, as a symbol of our sincere sympathy and respect.