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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION | ||||||
| 2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
| 3 | Representatives wish to recognize the career and legacy of | ||||||
| 4 | General John Malchase David Shalikashvili of the United States | ||||||
| 5 | Army; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, General Shalikashvili, a descendant of the | ||||||
| 7 | Georgian noble family House of Shalikashvili, was born in | ||||||
| 8 | Warsaw, Poland; at the age of 16, he immigrated to Peoria, | ||||||
| 9 | Illinois in 1952, learning English by watching American | ||||||
| 10 | movies; he graduated from Bradley University with a degree in | ||||||
| 11 | mechanical engineering; and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, After receiving his draft notice, General | ||||||
| 13 | Shalikashvili entered the United States Army as a private and | ||||||
| 14 | rose through every level of command from platoon to division, | ||||||
| 15 | ultimately becoming the 13th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of | ||||||
| 16 | Staff, the first foreign-born, first draftee, and first | ||||||
| 17 | Officer Candidate School graduate to hold that position; and | ||||||
| 18 | WHEREAS, General Shalikashvili served heroically in | ||||||
| 19 | Vietnam, earning the Bronze Star with "V" device for valor, | ||||||
| 20 | and demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout his career, | ||||||
| 21 | including as commander of the 9th Infantry Division and | ||||||
| 22 | Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) for NATO; and | ||||||
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| 1 | WHEREAS, General Shalikashvili directed Operation Provide | ||||||
| 2 | Comfort, a 1991 humanitarian mission that saved the lives of | ||||||
| 3 | more than 500,000 Kurdish refugees in Northern Iraq, earning | ||||||
| 4 | international recognition for his ability to coordinate | ||||||
| 5 | military, coalition, and humanitarian efforts; and | ||||||
| 6 | WHEREAS, As chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from | ||||||
| 7 | 1993 to 1997, General Shalikashvili advised President Bill | ||||||
| 8 | Clinton on military and humanitarian operations around the | ||||||
| 9 | globe, oversaw more than 40 missions, promoted joint military | ||||||
| 10 | operations, and guided the United States Armed Forces through | ||||||
| 11 | a period of post-Cold War downsizing; and | ||||||
| 12 | WHEREAS, Upon his retirement, General Shalikashvili was | ||||||
| 13 | awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his tireless | ||||||
| 14 | dedication to national security and world peace, and he | ||||||
| 15 | continued to serve the nation as an advisor, educator, and | ||||||
| 16 | advocate for international cooperation; and | ||||||
| 17 | WHEREAS, General Shalikashvili passed away on July 23, | ||||||
| 18 | 2011 at the age of 75 and was laid to rest at Arlington | ||||||
| 19 | National Cemetery, leaving behind a legacy of service and | ||||||
| 20 | leadership; and | ||||||
| 21 | WHEREAS, General Shalikashvili's lifelong dedication, | ||||||
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| 1 | humility, and courage embody the highest ideals of military | ||||||
| 2 | service, representing the promise of America and the | ||||||
| 3 | extraordinary contributions of those who choose to serve; | ||||||
| 4 | therefore, be it | ||||||
| 5 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 6 | HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 7 | we recognize the distinguished career and enduring legacy of | ||||||
| 8 | General John Malchase David Shalikashvili of the United States | ||||||
| 9 | Army as a soldier, leader, and statesman, and we express our | ||||||
| 10 | deepest gratitude for his service to the United States and the | ||||||
| 11 | world. | ||||||