WHEREAS, Steponas (Stephen) Darius and Stasys (Stanley) Girenas were pioneer aviators from Chicago (Darius from the Bridgeport neighborhood and Girenas from Marquette Park); and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this by 18th Ward Alderman Lona Lane and 15th Ward Alderman Toni Foulkes; and
WHEREAS, Darius and Girenas rebuilt and outfitted their airplane, the Lituanica, at workshops on 65th Street in Chicago's Clearing Industrial District; and
WHEREAS, On July 15, 1933, Darius and Girenas piloted the Lituanica, from New York on a planned trans-Atlantic flight to the city of Kaunas, Lithuania;
WHEREAS, They flew, non-stop, a distance of nearly 4,000 miles in just over 37 hours; before tragically crashing in a forest in what was then northeastern Germany, in unfavorable weather conditions, just short of their goal; and
WHEREAS, Despite the flight costing them their lives, the work and bravery of Darius and Girenas have inspired generations of Chicagoans and others around the world to always pursue knowledge and to explore new frontiers; and
WHEREAS, The commemorations of 80th Anniversary are held all over the world, and the Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania has declared the year of 2013 as the year of Steponas Darius ir Stasys Girenas Transatlantic Flight; and
WHEREAS, The 80th Anniversary of this historic flight in Chicago will be commemorated at the International Chicago Airports, a special exhibition at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, a ceremony at Darius-Girenas Monument in Chicago's Marquette Park and other commemoration events celebrated by people who are committed to remembering the importance of Darius and Girenas' special place in aviation history; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here in assembly this fifth day of June, 2013 A.D do hereby declare the month of July, 2013 to be DARIUS-GIRENAS MONTH IN CHICAGO, and urge all Chicagoans to...
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