HJ0081 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0081 LRB099 12602 GRL 36236 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly stand united in our strong support of all military personnel who have served and call on all Illinoisans to show support to all those who wear the uniform; and

WHEREAS, Forty-two years ago, World War II veteran Jesse Crow watched as soldiers returned to DeSoto from tours of duty in Vietnam; Mr. Crow fought in Europe as a member of the United States Army's 101st Airborne Division; and

WHEREAS, It is believed by many veterans that after World War II, other wars are ignored or forgotten; Jesse Crow observed and recognized this and dedicated his time to making sure that none of DeSoto's veterans are ever forgotten; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, Jesse Crow began planning to build a memorial in the community; the memorial was built almost entirely with private donations; Mr. Crow designed the 6 1/2-foot tall black granite monument, which sits on a triangular island of land bordered by Illinois Route 149 and Pine and Lincoln Streets; and

WHEREAS, The monument is engraved with the emblems of all the branches of the military and is flanked by matching black granite benches; it bears the names of all DeSoto's past and future veterans, regardless of whether they served in a time of war or peace; and

WHEREAS, Jesse Crow stated, "It is one thing to read history in the pages of a book, but when you see a monument carved in stone, it's forever"; and

WHEREAS, It is important that we urge communities across the State to consider appropriate expressions of support and recognition for veterans living in their midst; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the portion of Illinois Route 149 East from U.S. Route 51 to the Jackson County Line as the "Veterans Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name of the "Veterans Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Village of DeSoto.