Full Text of SR1201 98th General Assembly
SR1201 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate wish to | 3 | | recognize the life of Otis J. Neal of Paris, who passed away on | 4 | | May 18, 1968; and
| 5 | | WHEREAS, Otis Neal first served his country in 1916 during | 6 | | the Mexican Border Expedition, then in World War I, where he | 7 | | fought in the battles of Lorraine and Aisne, and again in World | 8 | | War II, where he served in the European Theater and Northern | 9 | | Africa; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Otis Neal was born in Pleasureville, Kentucky on | 11 | | October 11, 1898 to James Henry and Elizabeth (nee Coleman) | 12 | | Neal, but moved with his family to Paris at a young age, and he | 13 | | would remain a resident the rest of his life; he married Mary | 14 | | Jean England; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, Otis Neal's descendants include a daughter, | 16 | | Sandra Neal Darby; 2 granddaughters, Deedra Darby Jones and | 17 | | Chastity Darby Arrasmith; and 3 great-grandchildren, Jordan | 18 | | Arrasmith, Mekenzie Arrasmith, and Jada Jones; and
| 19 | | WHEREAS, At the time of Otis Neal's passing, he was | 20 | | survived by a sister, Hattie Mae Thomas; he was preceded in | 21 | | death by 3 brothers and 2 sisters; and
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| 1 | | WHEREAS, Otis Neal was a member of the local American | 2 | | Legion post, where he proudly served as a member of the Honor | 3 | | Guard; he was affiliated with Grace AME Church; and | 4 | | WHEREAS, Until recently, the grave of Otis Neal has been | 5 | | obscure and was not befitting of his dedication and | 6 | | accomplishments as a soldier in the 8th Illinois National Guard - | 7 | | a unit comprised of African-American soldiers; on May 24, | 8 | | 2014 he will be the focus of a military tribute at Edgar | 9 | | Cemetery in Paris where a new monument will be unveiled in his | 10 | | honor; therefore, be it
| 11 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL | 12 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the life | 13 | | of Otis J. Neal and honor his service to his country; and be it | 14 | | further
| 15 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 16 | | presented to the family of Otis Neal in honor of his service.
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