RESOLUTION HONORING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHICAGO NAVY MEMORIAL AT NAVY PIER
WHEREAS, for 128 years, the City of Chicago and the Chicagoland area have made significant contributions to America's national security and Armed Forces, especially with regard to the nation's sea services; and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 1893, the State of Illinois established the Illinois Naval Militia with two battalions or ships' crew, of four divisions each; one battalion was located in Chicago, two divisions at Moline, one at Alton, and one at Quincy; and
WHEREAS, in support ofthe Spanish-American War in 1898, the Illinois Naval Militia deployed 678 volunteers; 60 volunteers were aboard the USS OREGON and 17 were aboard the USS INDIANA during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba on July 3, 1898; and
WHEREAS, based on the superior performance of the Illinois Naval Militia volunteers in the Spanish-American War and assistance from the Chicago's business and civic leaders, the U.S. Navy and President Theodore Roosevelt approved establishing Naval Training Station Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, at the outset of World War I, Naval Station Great Lakes quickly expanded to meet the demand for trained Sailors. The station transformed 87,363 civilians into Sailors for the U.S. fleet. An additional 21, 863 sailors received technical training aboard the station before they were sent to the fleet; and
WHEREAS, Chicago was home to the Naval Auxiliary Reserve School at Municipal Pier that produced 4, 523 naval officers and Grant Park was home to a naval training school at Grant Park Camp that produced 1, 910 enlisted volunteers; and
WHEREAS, on December 28, 1927, the Chicago City Council voted to rename Municipal Pier to Navy Pier as a tribute to Navy personnel who volunteered and sacrificed throughout the period of World War I; and
WHEREAS, at the onset of World War II, Naval Station Great Lakes was expanded again to meet the demand for trained Sailors. This time, the station transformed 965,259 civilians int...
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