RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano served his country with distinction as a member of the United States Navy during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Born on December 7, 1920, Anthony Gargano was the youngest of seven children born to Italian immigrants who had come to Chicago and made their home on the City's West Side; and
WHEREAS, When his father died, Anthony Gargano dropped out of high school and went to work to help his mother buy food for the family; and
WHEREAS, On December 7, 1941, Anthony Gargano's 22nd birthday, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and less than six weeks later he enlisted in the U.S. Navy; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano was assigned to one of three ships masquerading as merchant vessels; and
WHEREAS, In 1942 Anthony Gargano and his shipmates were captured by the Japanese and taken to Hakodate prison camp on an island just north of mainland Japan; and
WHEREAS, During his internment, Anthony Gargano was severely beaten on a regular basis and suffered from malnutrition; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano remained a prisoner of war for three years and was freed the day the Japanese surrendered and abandoned the camp; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano returned to the United States and married the love of his life, Julia; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano worked six days a week as a maitre d' at Elliott's Pine Log Restaurant, raised a son, George, and a daughter, Lexi, and has welcomed the arrival of five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano is truly an example of what journalist Tom Brokaw called "Our Greatest Generation;" and
WHEREAS, Anthony Gargano 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 eighteenth day of November, 2015 do hereby express our sincere appreciation to Anthony Gargano for his military service; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Anthony Gargano.
