HJ0028 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0028 LRB095 11293 DRJ 31901 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois State women have proudly served in defense of our Nation since the Civil War, despite their lack of military standing before the 1900s; and

WHEREAS, They served in all major conflicts in ever-increasing numbers, volunteering to preserve our freedom; and

WHEREAS, They served in expanding positions of responsibility from laundresses and cooks to administrators, from medical and technical personnel to full combatants; and

WHEREAS, Illinois State women contributed to establishing and maintaining our independence, preserving the Union, abolishing slavery, and advancing the cause of freedom and democracy around the world; and

WHEREAS, In times of conflict, State of Illinois women served the military as society permitted or as the situation demanded; and

WHEREAS, Women came forward to replace men as battlefield emergencies demanded and some even disguised their gender in order to serve; others masked their identity, risking their lives as couriers and intelligence agents; and

WHEREAS, The value of their contributions has finally been recognized by their ever-increasing integration and opportunities in the Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, Women now make up over 15% of the active duty force and about 23% of the reserve force, totaling over 203,000 women soldiers; and

WHEREAS, Today women make up 7% of the United States Veterans population; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the General Assembly authorize the construction of a memorial honoring women in military service on a portion of the State-owned property in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.