WHEREAS, October 29, 2017 marks the eighty-fifth anniversary ofthe founding of Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars by Leo Spychalski and twenty other veterans in 1932; and
WHEREAS, in this important anniversary year, the City of Chicago honors the duty, the sacrifice, the courage and the patriotism of the brave men and women who served their city and nation in times of armed conflict, insurrection and war; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of this milestone by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, the Veterans of Foreign Wars is an American service veterans organization founded on September 29, 1899 for the purpose of aiding disabled and needy veterans and their dependents; promoting patriotism, community involvement, honor of country, welcome home events and obtaining for the veterans assistance with United States Government programs and health care; and
WHEREAS, in its inaugural year, membership of Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars numbered twenty-one veterans of World War I; and
WHEREAS, after membership declined, the ranks swelled after World War II and the Korean War as veterans returned home to Chicago to begin their lives anew; and
WHEREAS, as a distinguished community service organization, Rhine Post 2729 ofthe Veterans of Foreign Wars have participated in numerous benefits, patriotic gatherings, parades and charitable campaigns drawing awareness, distributing American flags to schools, and elevating the status of its honored veterans residing in Chicago's Southwest Side neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, in 1955, Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars opened a permanent Chicago office at 5858 South Archer Avenue (at Luna Avenue) in the Garfield Ridge community and have remained at this location ever since; and
WHEREAS, for twenty years Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars held an annual Memorial Day Parade that drew thousands of spectators to the Archer Avenue parade route; and
WHEREAS, in the 1960s, Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars sponsored a senior rifle and drill team that won seven consecutive state championships; and
WHEREAS, among the many charitable and philanthropic missions it serves, Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is an active partner of the V.F.W. National Home for Children, located in Eaton Rapids, Michigan benefitting families of active service members deployed overseas; and
WHEREAS, Rhine Post 2729 ofthe Veterans of Foreign Wars is a pillar of the Southwest Side communities and continues its valued mission of rendering service, aide and support to its members and to the younger veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this sixth day of September, 2017, do hereby congratulate, pay tribute and express our profound gratitude to the heroes of foreign wars belonging to Rhine Post 2729 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars who have served proudly in this eighty-fifth anniversary year.