RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Melvin Laird has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 94; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Melvin Laird was the loving an devoted husband of Carole and the late Barbara; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Melvin Laird was the much-adored father of John, Allison, David and Kimberly to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, The Honorable Melvin Laird was a former Wisconsin Congressman who served as Secretary of Defense under Richard M. Nixon during the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure as Secretary of State, the Honorable Melvin Laird ended the draft after embarking on a policy of assigning an increased combat role to South Vietnamese troops; and
WHEREAS, By the time he stepped down from the post in 1973, the Honorable Melvin Laird had reduced the United States' presence in Vietnam from 550,000 troops to 69,000 troops; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, the Honorable Melvin Laird bravely served as an officer in the United States Navy aboard the destroyer Maddox in the South Pacific and was awarded a Purple Heart; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Honorable Melvin Laird serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, the Honorable Melvin Laird imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this fourteenth day of December, 2016, do hereby commemorate the Honorable Melvin Laird for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and