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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, In accordance with the established tradition of
3the Illinois House of Representatives, it is fitting that, in
4observance of Memorial Day, we honor our brothers and sisters
5who have given their lives in service to our country as the
6guardians of our long-held freedoms; and
 
7    WHEREAS, This Memorial Day, we give added reverence in
8marking the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American
9Civil War and reflect on those long-forgotten ancestors who
10fought so valiantly over four long years between 1861 and 1865
11in that great struggle to make our country truly whole and
12truly free; and
 
13    WHEREAS, No better words have been written to honor those
14brave souls who were sacrificed long ago or pay tribute to the
15those brave men and women of today who have continued that
16fight for freedom than the Gettysburg Address; let us now
17recite those words so humbly said by our 16th President,
18Abraham Lincoln: "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers
19brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in
20Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are
21created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing
22whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so
23dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield

 

 

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1of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field,
2as a final resting place for those who have gave their lives
3that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and
4proper that we should do this. But, in the larger sense, we can
5not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we cannot hallow - this
6ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here,
7have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or
8detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we
9say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for
10us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished
11work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
12advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great
13task remaining before us - that from those honored dead we take
14increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last
15full measure of devotion - that we here highly resolve that
16these dead shall not have died in vain - that this nation,
17under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that
18government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall
19not perish from the earth."; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Those words from long ago still speak to those
21brave men and women of today who we now honor; it is all
22together fitting and appropriate that we, with heavy hearts,
23again accept the honor of reading the Roll Call of those
24American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines from the State
25of Illinois who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the

 

 

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1preceding year since the previous tribute; therefore, be it
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4a copy of this resolution and a copy of the ceremonial honor
5roll and program of the May 25, 2011 reading of names be
6presented to the families of these fallen heroes.