Bill Text: IL HR0307 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates Highland VFW Post 5694 on its 75th Anniversary.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2021-05-19 - Resolution Adopted [HR0307 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-HR0307-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives would like to congratulate Highland VFW Post
5694 on its 75th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 was established on
February 24, 1946, and its Auxiliary was founded on July 28,
1946; and
WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 originated when the local
World War I veterans returned home; once World War II started,
most of the membership returned to service, and with few
members remaining, the Post lost its charter due to lack of
participation; and
WHEREAS, When World War II ended, the returning members
needed a place to gather and to talk about their experiences;
they decided to meet at a place called Bucket's Tavern; this
location became the meeting place of a group of young men
interested in forming a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in
Highland; and
WHEREAS, The necessary steps were then taken to form
Highland VFW Post 5694; the first recorded meeting of the Post
was held at the Highland Public School gymnasium on February

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24, 1946; and
WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 was instituted with
approximately 200 members on the charter; this was a group of
energetic young men who wasted no time starting fundraising
projects, which included dances being held at the Lindendale
Park ballroom; and
WHEREAS, In early 1948, negotiations were started to
purchase property consisting of a building, a lake, and
approximately four acres; the final purchase was completed in
August of 1948, and a new organization named Oversea's
Veterans of Highland, Inc. was formed; Highland VFW Post 5694
served as the parent organization with all Post members
automatically becoming corporate members; and
WHEREAS, On March 10, 1951, a major disaster struck when a
defective chimney caused a fire that completely destroyed
Highland VFW Post 5694's building; a rebuild plan was then put
into place, and the membership responded in excellent fashion
with physical labor; the community did likewise with donations
of money and materials; in September of the same year, the
rebuild was complete, and a grand reopening was held; and
WHEREAS, Between 1951 and 1967, there were quite a few new
additions to Highland VFW Post 5694 after the rebuild; a

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monument was purchased for the comrades who lost their lives
in World War II; a 105 Howitzer Artillery weapon was added, and
an additional 14 acres of land were added towards the
development of a park; additions were added inside the Post
building as well, with the installation of six bowling alley
lanes; one final addition came in the form of a jet plane that
was mounted outside as a dedication to the memory of those
comrades who lost their lives in the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 has always placed a
special emphasis on community service, hosting annual
Christmas programs, Easter egg hunts, and trips to Major
League Baseball games in St. Louis; and
WHEREAS, Other contributions to the community have
included donations to furnish a room at the local hospital,
building baseball fields for boys of the community to use, and
providing special lighting equipment for the Highland Fire
Department Emergency truck; smaller donations were also made,
which included donating flags for schools and churches and
Christmas baskets for the needy; and
WHEREAS, There has never been a year that Highland VFW
Post 5694 has not donated to national organizations such as
the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, March of Dimes,
United Cerebral Palsy, Cancer Fund, and many more worthy

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causes; and
WHEREAS, Highland VFW Post 5694 had peak membership in the
early 1970s, including hitting a high of 510 members during
the years 1973 and 1974; sadly, many members have passed away,
and the current membership stands at 250; and
WHEREAS, In 2020, the Highland VFW Post 5694 experienced
significant setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic; however, in
March of 2021, fish fries with limited attendance were
resumed, and the members look forward to coming back strong as
more restrictions are being lifted; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of the VFW shall be fraternal,
patriotic, historical and educational, to preserve and
strengthen comradeship among its members, to assist worthy
comrades, to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead and
assist their widows and orphans, to maintain true allegiance
to the Government of the United States of America and fidelity
to its Constitution and laws, to foster patriotism, to
maintain and extend the institutions of American Freedom and
to preserve and defend the United States from all its enemies;
and
WHEREAS, Over the last 75 years, the Highland VFW Post
5694 has endeavored to uphold these principles and pledges to

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continue to do so as well as push forward for community
service; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate the Highland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post
5694 on their 75th anniversary and thank them for their
service to the community and the country; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Highland VFW Post 5694 as a symbol of our esteem
and respect.