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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, World War II, the most widespread war in history,
3lasted from 1939 until 1945; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The United States entered the war in 1941,
5following an attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese fighter planes;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Over 16 million Americans served their country and
8the Allied powers over the course of the war; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The generation of men and women who served our
10country in World War II has been called the "greatest
11generation" for their selfless sacrifice; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest military
13decoration that is awarded by the United States government; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is presented by the President
15of the United States in the name of Congress; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members
17of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves
18through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
19life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action

 

 

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1against an enemy of the United States, while engaged in
2military operations involving conflict with an opposing
3foreign force, or while serving with friendly forces engaged in
4an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the
5United States is not a belligerent party; and
 
6    WHEREAS, More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded
7to our nation's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and
8coast guardsmen since the creation of the award in 1861; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor was awarded to 353 Americans
10during World War II; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Only two of those 353 Americans are alive today;
12and
 
13    WHEREAS, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee and Hershel
14Woodrow Williams of West Virginia served their country with
15conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life and
16therefore deserve the gratitude of the American people; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The President of the United States has the sole
18authority to designate a state funeral; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States may pass a
20Concurrent Resolution to allow an individual to lie in state in

 

 

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1the rotunda of the United States Capitol; and
 
2    WHEREAS, Historically, the President of the United States
3has designated state funerals for former presidents, generals,
4and other extraordinary Americans; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Our nation is currently divided and yearns for a
6unifying national event; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Designating a state funeral when the last
8surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient dies would be a
9wonderful way for the American people to unite and honor all 16
10million soldiers, sailors, and airmen who served in our Armed
11Forces from 1941 to 1945; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
13ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
14CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the President of the United
15States and the Congress of the United States to take all
16necessary measures to ensure the last surviving Medal of Honor
17recipient from World War II be offered a state funeral,
18including, but not limited to, having the option to lie in
19state in the rotunda of the United States Capitol; and be it
20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

 

 

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1delivered to the President of the United States, the President
2and the Secretary of the United States Senate, the Speaker and
3the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the
4chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, the chair
5of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and the Illinois
6Congressional Delegation.