[ Back ] [ Bottom ]
92_HJ0041
LRB9208937RHrh
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Throughout history brave Americans have shed
3 their blood during wars and conflicts to preserve, protect,
4 and defend the foundation of the principles of democracy and
5 freedom; and
6 WHEREAS, Many of those that have served have been the
7 brave men and women of the State of Illinois; and
8 WHEREAS, In every military conflict and national time of
9 need since 1818, the brave men and women of the State of
10 Illinois have risen to the cause of defending democracy; and
11 WHEREAS, These brave men and women often left behind
12 family, friends, farms, and business, and often many of them
13 were to never return, making the ultimate sacrifice for their
14 country; and
15 WHEREAS, With the signing of the Armistice ending the
16 "War to End All Wars", WWI on November 11th 1918, the
17 veterans of Illinois were given a holiday of solemn
18 remembrance and thanks from their countrymen which later came
19 to be known as Veteran's Day; and
20 WHEREAS, The people of the great State of Illinois wish
21 to thank those numerous veterans for their sacrifices and
22 service; therefore, be it
23 WHEREAS, Throughout history brave Americans have shed
24 their blood during was and conflicts to preserve, protect,
25 and defend the foundation of the principles of democracy and
26 freedom, and hundreds of thousands have paid the ultimate
27 sacrifice to ensure that future generations enjoy life's
28 liberties; and
29 WHEREAS, On August 7, 1782, General George Washington
30 established the Military Badge of Merit, which on February
-2- LRB9208937RHrh
1 22, 1932 became the present and now the oldest military
2 decoration in the world, the Purple Heart medal; and
3 WHEREAS, The Purple Heart medal is awarded to all
4 military personnel who are killed or wounded in action
5 against the enemy; and
6 WHEREAS, E.J. "Zeke" Giorgi was first elected to the
7 House of Representatives in 1964, and he served in that
8 position until his passing in 1993; and
9 WHEREAS, From his first term through his service as "Dean
10 of the House", Zeke Giorgi served the people of this State
11 with great distinction, and he is remembered by his
12 colleagues on both sides of the aisle for providing
13 invaluable guidance and leadership on many important issues;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, During all the years that Zeke Giorgi served in
16 the House, he drove between Springfield and his Rockford
17 legislative district on U.S. Highway 51 and was a strong
18 advocate for Route 51 improvements, which were completed on
19 several stages; and
20 WHEREAS, Following the completion of improvements to U.S.
21 Route 51, the highway was designated as Interstate Highway
22 39; and
23 WHEREAS, Interstate Highway 39 provides an essential
24 transportation corridor between Rockford and Bloomington and
25 other parts of Central Illinois; and
26 WHEREAS, We wish to permanently commemorate Zeke Giogi's
27 essential role in creating this critically needed highway and
28 his abiding impact on the lives of the people of Illinois;
29 and
30 WHEREAS, Thomas William Davenport was a licensed civil
-3- LRB9208937RHrh
1 engineer with the Illinois Department of Transportation; on
2 April 16, 1992, he was killed by a drunk driver north of his
3 home in Chatham, Illinois; and
4 WHEREAS, Thomas Davenport was a son, brother, husband,
5 and a father; and
6 WHEREAS, Thomas Davenport, working with the Illinois
7 Department of Transportation, assisted with the building of
8 the bridge on South Chatham Road that crosses Interstate 72
9 and Illinois Route 36; and
10 WHEREAS, The bridge is located on South Chatham Road in
11 Springfield, Illinois, and is used as an overpass for
12 Interstate 72 and Illinois Route 36; and
13 WHEREAS, The members of the House were saddened to learn
14 of the death of Mayor Ken Hayes of Bradley; and
15 WHEREAS, He was elected mayor in 1981 and was re-elected
16 in 1985, 1989, 1993, and 1997; and
17 WHEREAS, He was born in Limestone Township on August 30,
18 1924, the son of Patrick and Catherine Hayes; the family
19 moved to Bradley when he was three months old, and until his
20 death he lived in the house that his father bought; and
21 WHEREAS, He attended St. Joseph's Grammar School and
22 Bradley-Boubonnais Community High School; he served in the
23 United States Army's 83rd Division, 331st Infantry, Company L
24 during World War II; he won the Silver Star, the Bronze Star
25 with clusters for meritorious service, a Good Conduct medal,
26 the European Theatre of Operations medal for five campaigns,
27 and the Croix de Guerre for service to France; and
28 WHEREAS, When he returned from war, Ken Hayes became a
29 precinct captain and then a committeeman; he was elected
30 vice-chairman of the Democratic Central Committee in Kankakee
-4- LRB9208937RHrh
1 County in 1966 and served in that role until 1972; when he
2 was elected central committee chairman; and
3 WHEREAS, When he arrived home from the Army, he worked in
4 the pipefitter's union local until he had a heart attack in
5 1963, which led him to quit his trade; he went to work
6 inspecting seed for the Illinois Department of Agriculture
7 and later worked for then Secretary of State Alan Dixon; and
8 WHEREAS, He went to work for the Illinois Secretary of
9 State and retired with a disability pension after a heart
10 bypass operation in 1978; and
11 WHEREAS, He was the founder of the Area Jobs Development
12 Association, active in scouting, golfing, the Bradley Lions,
13 and a life member of the Bradley V.F.W.; and
14 WHEREAS, Under Mayor Hayes' strong leadership, the
15 Village of Bradley experienced unprecedented commercial and
16 retail growth amounting to large increases in sales tax
17 revenue to Bradley; and
18 WHEREAS, He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose
19 Lodge of Bradley, one of the vice presidents of the Illinois
20 Municipal League, and a member of the Mayors Association; and
21 WHEREAS, Much of the commercial growth and development
22 that Kenneth P. Hayes worked for occurred along Illinois
23 Route 50; and
24 WHEREAS, Senator John W. Maitland, Jr., was born in
25 Normal, Illinois on July 29, 1936, to John and Elsa Maitland;
26 and
27 WHEREAS, Senator Maitland is a graduate of Normal
28 Community High School and Illinois State University, and
29 served in the United States Marine Corps; and Senator
30 Maitland married his wife Joanne Sieg and together they have
-5- LRB9208937RHrh
1 three children, Jody Ann, Johnny, and Jay, and six
2 grandchildren; and
3 WHEREAS, Senator Maitland entered the General Assembly in
4 1979 and sat on committee of Agriculture; Appropriations;
5 Conservation and Energy; and Executive; and
6 WHEREAS, Senator Maitland is currently the Assistant
7 Majority Leader and Chairman of the Illinois Growth Task
8 Force; and
9 WHEREAS, Senator Maitland has spent the past twenty-two
10 years of service dedicated to his constituents and has
11 continued his efforts to make his district a thriving
12 community; therefore, be it
13 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
15 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that Interstate 74, traversing
16 through the heart of Illinois is designated as the Veterans
17 Memorial Parkway, in honor of the veterans of the State of
18 Illinois; and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation is
20 requested to erect appropriate plaques along this route in
21 recognition of the Veterans Memorial Parkway; and be it
22 further
23 RESOLVED, that Interstate 72, traversing through the
24 heart of Illinois, be designated as the commemorative "Purple
25 Heart Memorial Highway", to pay tribute to the many thousands
26 of Illinois residents who have been awarded the Purple Heart
27 medal; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
29 is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
30 State and federal regulations, an appropriate plaque or signs
31 giving notice of the name; and be it further
-6- LRB9208937RHrh
1 RESOLVED, That the portion of Interstate Highway 39
2 commencing at its point of orgin in Winnebago County and
3 ending with its intersection with Interstate Route 88 be
4 designated the E.J. "Zeke" Giorgi Highway; and be it further
5 RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation is
6 requested to erect appropriate plaques or signs giving notice
7 to the E.J. "Zeke" Giorgi Highway; and be it further
8 RESOLVED, That we urge the bridge on South Chatham Road,
9 spanning Interstate 72 and Illinois Route 36, be named the
10 Thomas William Davenport Memorial Bridge; and be it further
11 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
12 is requested to erect, at a suitable location consistent with
13 State and federal regulations, an appropriate plaque or signs
14 giving notice of the name; and be it further
15 RESOLVED, That Illinois Route 50 in Bradley, Illinois,
16 from North Street to Larry Power Road, is designated as the
17 Kenneth P. Hayes Memorial Highway; and be it further
18 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
19 is directed to erect, at suitable locations consistent with
20 State regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice
21 of the renaming of Illinois Route 50 in Bradley, Illinois,
22 from North Street to Larry Power Road, as the Kenneth P.
23 Hayes Memorial Highway; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the portion of Interstate 55 lying between
25 milemarker 157 and milemarker 167, be designated as the
26 Maitland Bypass; and be it further
27 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
28 is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
29 State and federal regulations, an appropriate plaque or signs
30 giving notice of the name; and be it further
-7- LRB9208937RHrh
1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2 presented to the Secretary of U.S. Department of
3 Transportation; the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
4 Transportation; the family of E.J. "Zeke" Giorgi; the family
5 of Thomas William Davenport; the family of Mayor Ken Hayes;
6 and the family of Senator John W. Maitland, Jr.
7
[ Top ]