RESOLUTION HONORING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHICAGO NAVY MEMORIAL AT NAVY PIER
WHEREAS, for 128 years, the City of Chicago and the Chicagoland area have made significant contributions to America's national security and Armed Forces, especially with regard to the nation's sea services; and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 1893, the State of Illinois established the Illinois Naval Militia with two battalions or ships' crew, of four divisions each; one battalion was located in Chicago, two divisions at Moline, one at Alton, and one at Quincy; and
WHEREAS, in support ofthe Spanish-American War in 1898, the Illinois Naval Militia deployed 678 volunteers; 60 volunteers were aboard the USS OREGON and 17 were aboard the USS INDIANA during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898; and
WHEREAS, based on the superior performance of the Illinois Naval Militia volunteers in the Spanish-American War and assistance from the Chicago's business and civic leaders, the U.S. Navy and President Theodore Roosevelt approved establishing Naval Training Station Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, at the outset of World War I, Naval Station Great Lakes quickly expanded to meet the demand for trained Sailors. The station transformed 87,363 civilians into Sailors for the U.S. fleet. An additional 21, 863 sailors received technical training aboard the station before they were sent to the fleet; and
WHEREAS, Chicago was home to the Naval Auxiliary Reserve School at Municipal Pier that produced 4, 523 naval officers and Grant Park was home to a naval training school at Grant Park Camp that produced 1, 910 enlisted volunteers; and
WHEREAS, on December 28, 1927, the Chicago City Council voted to rename Municipal Pier to Navy Pier as a tribute to Navy personnel who volunteered and sacrificed throughout the period of World War I; and
WHEREAS, at the onset of World War II, Naval Station Great Lakes was expanded again to meet the demand for trained Sailors. This time, the station transformed 965,259 civilians into Sailors for the U.S. fleet; and
WHEREAS, from 1942 until 1945, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps produced 17,820 aircraft carrier pilots aboard the USS WOLVERINE and USS SABLE; and Navy Pier was home to the largest Navy technical training site which trained some 50,000 aviation mechanics, metal smiths, and radio operators for naval service; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Navy's first African-American naval officers received their officer training at Camp Robert Smalls at Naval Training Station Great Lakes. Known as the "Gold Thirteen", four of the thirteen grew up in the Chicagoland area: Jesse W. Arbor, John W. Reagan, Frank E. Sublet, Jr., and William S. White; and
WHEREAS, during WWII, some 1,350 Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (better known as the WAVES) were on duty as administrators, Instructors, and Specialists in Chicago and the Chicagoland area at Naval Training Station Great Lakes and Naval Air Station Glenview; and
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WHEREAS, fittingly, a distinguished group of military veterans, business, and civic leaders have come together to establish the Chicago Navy Memorial at Navy Pier; and
WHEREAS, the Memorial will be a world-class memorial that commemorates the hidden heritage and nearly-forgotten history of Chicagoland's naval contributions to the Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the Memorial will captivate a large percentage of visitors to Navy Pier and attract new visitors to Chicago because of its eye-catching replica of the USS WOLVERINE and other architectural features; and
WHEREAS, the Memorial will provide an unforgettable experience within its Discovery Center for veterans, active-duty and reserve members, family members, military historians, and the general public; and
WHEREAS, the Memorial will inspire millions through its collection, preservation, and display of naval artifacts directly connected to Chicagoland's contributions to the nation's security; and
WHEREAS, the Memorial will become a major attraction for the 9 million visitors who annually visit Navy Pier and become a destination for 40,000 Navy boot camp graduates annually, their families, and friends who come to Chicago from all 50 states and U.S. territories to celebrate each graduate's recent accomplishment; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and the City Council of the City of Chicago support the establishment of the Chicago Navy Memorial at Navy Pier and urge all Chicagoans to recognize the patriotism, devotion and loyalty of the citizens who willingly served in one the nation's sea services and appreciate the sacrifices they made in our country's defense; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members ofthe City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here in assembly this 17th day of November, 2021, A.S., do hereby recognize and express appreciation for all those who have ever served in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Merchant Marines and all the family members and friends who shared their sacrifices with them; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Chicago Navy Memorial at Navy Pier organization.
ALD. NICHOLAS SPOSATO 38th WARD
ALD. PAT DOWELL 3R0 WARD
ALD. SOPHIA KING 4th WARD
ALD. LESLIE HAIRSTON 5th WARD
ALD. SUSAN SADLOWSKI GARZA 10th WARD
ALD. PATRICK D. THOMPSON 11™ WARD
ALD. GEORGE CARDENAS 12th WARD
ALD. EDWARD BURKE 14th WARD
ALD. RAYMOND LOPEZ 15™ WARD
ALD. MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ 22NO WARD
ALD. SILVANA TABARES 23rd WARD
ALD. ARIEL REBOYRAS 30™ WARD
ALD. FELIX CARDONA JR. 31st WARD
ALD. SCOTT WAGUESPACK 32nd WARD
ALD. EMMA MITTS 37™ WARD
ALD. SAMANTHA NUGENT 39™ WARD
ALD. ANDRE VASQUEZ 40™ WARD
ALD. ANTHONY NAPOLITANO 41st WARD
ALD. BRENDAN RE ILLY 42nd WARD
ALD. JAMES GARDINER 45™ WARD
ALD. JAMES CAPPLEMAN 46™ WARD
ALD. MATTHEW MARTIN 47™ WARD
ALD. DEBRA SILVERSTEIN 50™ WARD