Bill Text: IL HJR0006 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designates the Grand Avenue Overpass over Interstate 94 in Gurnee as the "Allen J. Lynch Congressional Medal of Honor Overpass" in honor of Allen Lynch and his accomplishments.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-05-23 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0006 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-HJR0006-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
who have served our country and, in doing so, have gone above
and beyond the call of duty to take part in truly heroic tasks;
and
WHEREAS, Of the millions of men and women who have served
this country with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast
Guard, only 3,468 have ever been awarded the highest military
decoration awarded by the United States government, the Medal
of Honor; and
WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is awarded for conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of one's life above and
beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against any
enemy of the United States, while engaged in military
operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force,
or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an
armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the
United States is not a belligerent party; and
WHEREAS, It is a true honor for an individual to be awarded
the Medal of Honor and serves to distinguish those individuals
as true American heroes; and

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WHEREAS, Allen J. Lynch was born on October 28, 1945, in
Chicago; he grew up in the Lake Eliza area of Indiana, where he
attended Union Center Elementary School and Wheeler Junior High
School; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from high school, Allen Lynch
joined the United States Army in 1964; he was later sent to
Vietnam in the fall of 1966 and was assigned to the 12th
Cavalry; he served as a rifleman for several months before
becoming his platoon's radiotelephone operator; and
WHEREAS, On December 15, 1967, Allen Lynch was serving as a
specialist four in Company D, 1st Battalion (Airmobile), 12th
Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile);
during a firefight near the Binh Dinh Province of Vietnam, he
saw 3 wounded soldiers out in the open who were under intense
enemy fire; he quickly dropped his radio and went to help the
soldiers; under intense fire, he carried the wounded soldiers
to safety and single-handedly defended them against the
advancing enemy force for several hours; and
WHEREAS, Following this courageous action, Allen Lynch was
subsequently promoted to the rank of sergeant and awarded the
Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in
action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of

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duty; and
WHEREAS, Allen Lynch's quick thinking and disregard for his
own safety were vital in saving those lives, but his fight on
behalf of his fellow soldiers did not end on the battlefield;
after the war, he settled in Gurnee and worked for the
Department of Veterans Affairs, where he advocated for
increased benefits for disabled veterans; he later served as
chief of the Illinois Attorney General's Veterans Rights Bureau
until his retirement in 2005; and
WHEREAS, Allen Lynch continues his dedication to our nation
as a volunteer with the Vietnam Veterans of America
organization; he serves as the liaison for the Congressional
Medal of Honor Society and frequently gives speeches at
military-related events; he also performs ministry work with
the Lake County Jail; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the Grand Avenue
Overpass over Interstate 94 in Gurnee as the "Allen J. Lynch
Congressional Medal of Honor Overpass"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That upon completion of any unfinished sections
of highway, the Illinois Department of Transportation is

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requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State
and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving
notice of the name; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to Allen J. Lynch, his family, the Village of Gurnee,
the Lake County Board, the Lake County Veterans Assistance
Commission, the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
Transportation, and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.