Full Text of HR1341 100th General Assembly
HR1341 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Joseph J. | 4 | | "Joe" "Mr. Fourth of July" Marino of Rockford, who passed away | 5 | | on November 21, 2018; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was born in Rockford to Gaspare and | 7 | | Francesca (Cacioppo) Marino on September 27, 1926; he served in | 8 | | the United States Navy on the destroyer USS Henderson, which | 9 | | operated in the South Pacific and was based in Pearl Harbor | 10 | | during World War II; he was honorably discharged July 24, 1946; | 11 | | he received the Victory medal, the American Area Campaign | 12 | | Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Area Campaign Medal; he married | 13 | | Louise in Rockford in 1952; and
| 14 | | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was the TV pitchman for the Hanley | 15 | | Furniture store in downtown Rockford from the 1950s until the | 16 | | 1970s; he was a longtime employee of Project First Rate; and
| 17 | | WHEREAS, Since 1963, Joe Marino had been in charge of the | 18 | | Rockford Fourth of July Committee and, with the help of | 19 | | volunteers and donations, turned Rockford's annual fireworks | 20 | | show into one of the biggest and best shows in Illinois; he | 21 | | turned the Fourth of July into a day of celebrating family, | 22 | | friends, and America with a patriotic-themed breakfast, a |
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| 1 | | parade, and a pyrotechnic display that united the community and | 2 | | brought in thousands of people; one year, when there was not | 3 | | enough money for the fireworks show, he took a second mortgage | 4 | | on his house to pay for it; he also organized other events for | 5 | | Rockford families, including the Festival of Lights in | 6 | | Sinnissippi Park; and
| 7 | | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was officially recognized as Mr. Fourth | 8 | | of July by Mayor John McNamara on July 2, 1981, and July 4, | 9 | | 1981 was proclaimed "Joe Marino Day"; he was also recognized as | 10 | | Mr. Fourth of July by President Ronald Reagan; in early 2010, | 11 | | he was honored with a life-size bronzed statue, which was | 12 | | placed in Joe Marino Park; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was known for his outgoing personality, | 14 | | jovial nature, and tireless dedication to the city he called | 15 | | home; a beloved civic leader who championed community | 16 | | celebrations and festivals for half a century, he inspired | 17 | | generations of local children and adults to enthusiastically | 18 | | embrace the values of love, honor, and service to their city, | 19 | | country, and families; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Joe Marino was preceded in death by his wife, | 21 | | Louise; therefore, be it
| 22 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE |
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| 1 | | HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we | 2 | | mourn the passing of Joseph J. "Joe" "Mr. Fourth of July" | 3 | | Marino and extend our sincere condolences to his family, | 4 | | friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further
| 5 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 6 | | presented to the family of Joe Marino as an expression of our | 7 | | deepest sympathy.
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