RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek served his country with distinction during World War II and the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, Raised on the Near North Side of Chicago, near Southport and Fullerton Avenues, Stanley Morek hails from a military background; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek's father served as a Captain in the Polish Army during World War I before emigrating to the United States; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek dropped out of Lane Technical High School at the age of 16 to join the United States Merchant Marine during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek served on three ships in the Pacific Theater of Operations; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek was aboard the first Merchant Marine ship to enter the combat zone off the Palau Islands where his ship replenished the U.S. Navy with bombardment shells and the crew offloaded ammunition for American troops; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek concluded his service in the Merchant Marine in March of 1948 and joined the United States Army in September of 1950 during the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, During the Korean War, Stanley Morek was a Military Police Officer in Germany and rose to the rank of Corporal; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek was honorably discharged from the military in September of 1952 and returned home to Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek enjoyed a long and successful career in the heating and air conditioning business and in 1978 founded his own company; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek resides in Mount Prospect and is a member of the American Legion in Arlington Heights; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek will be honored at a special celebration to be held on the eve of Veteran's Day at the Polsinelli Law Offices in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, The event is sponsored by leading members of Chicago's business and legal community, including: Charles W. Bidwell III, founder of Casino Queen; the Honorable Keith S. Brin, the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lake County; Anthony J. Nasharr, Managing Partner of Polsinelli Law Offices; the Honorable Michael G. Nerheim, Lake County State's Attorney; Richard C. Vie, Chairman Emeritus of Kemper Corporation; and Edward J. Wehmer, President and Founder of Wintrust Financial Corporation; and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek is truly an example of what journalist Tom Brokaw called "Our Greatest Generation;" and
WHEREAS, Stanley Morek is exceedingly worthy of our highest admiration and esteem; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fifth day of November, 2014 do hereby express our sincere appreciation to Stanley Morek for his military service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Stanley Morek.