RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama will bestow The Presidential Medal of Freedom on the Honorable Abner J. Mikva at a White House ceremony on November 24, 2014; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner Mikva is a retired federal judge and a former five-term Democratic Congressman from Illinois; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner Mikva will receive America's highest civilian honor in recognition of his contributions to United States security, world peace and culture; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva served in the Illinois House of Representatives before representing Illinois' 2nd District in Congress from 1969 to 1973 and the 10th District from 1975 to 1979; and
WHEREAS, A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the Honorable Abner Mikva graduated from the University of Chicago Law School; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva left Congress in 1979 to become a member of the D.C. Court of Appeals where he served until 1994; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abner J. Mikva was later White House Counsel to President Bill Clinton; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, along with his wife, Zoe, the Honorable Abner Mikva launched The Mikva Challenge, a leadership program which involves Chicago youth in civic activities, such as working as election judges, volunteering on campaigns and interning in government offices; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable Abner Mikva serve as an example to all; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this nineteenth day of November, 2014, do hereby congratulate the Honorable Abner J. Mikva on being named a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Abner J. Mikva.
n- 14^ Ward
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