RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 70; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, A retired United States Army Sergeant Major and Vietnam veteran, Jon Cavaiani was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor; and
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani headed an elite platoon of commandos assigned to support a remote secret base where American soldiers were intercepting hostile communications and monitoring enemy movement along the Ho Chi Minh Trail; and
WHEREAS, On June 4, 1971, in the face of overwhelming odds, Jon Cavaiani coordinated the defense and evacuation of American troops by both helicopter and on the ground from a hilltop position; and
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani volunteered to stay behind and provide machine gun cover fire as his comrades escaped; and
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani was severely wounded as he aggressively sprayed wave after wave of machine gun fire onto the advancing enemy troops; and
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani was captured by Vietnamese forces and held as a prisoner of war until his release in 1973; and
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani retired from the military in 1990 after 21 years of active service and worked on the family's 294-acre peach farm in central California; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the Medal of Honor, Jon Cavaiani was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal, the Legion of Valor, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star with valor and the Purple Heart with oak leaf clusters; and
WHEREAS, The bravery, sacrifice and heroism of Jon Cavaiani serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, Jon Cavaiani will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his wife, Barbara, and his beloved family, Jon Cavaiani 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...
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