Bill Text: IL HR0763 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Declares June 6-7, 2024 as Eternal Heroes Memorial Days in memory of the Illinois Raveno Boys.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 11-1)

Status: (Passed) 2024-05-25 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller [HR0763 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HR0763-Introduced.html

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HR0763 LRB103 40136 MST 71826 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, On the night of June 5-6, 1944, more than 6,500
elite paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, the first
of the first, spearheaded the American airborne assault on the
Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France with the critical
missions of securing four causeways leading inland from the
beach codenamed 'Utah' and neutralizing enemy resistance in
advance of the amphibious landings at dawn on D-Day morning by
the 4th Infantry Division; and
WHEREAS, Many of the paratroopers were mis-dropped from
their designated drop zones; before dawn, a small group led by
Major John P. Stopka, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment,
attacked and captured a strategically sited and important
German garrison headquarters and strongpoint at Marmion Farm
on the outskirts of Ravenoville village; and
WHEREAS, Major Stopka made the decision to hold the farm
until relief arrived from Utah Beach, thereby denying enemy
movement against the northern shoulder of the 101st assault
area and the critical exits; and
WHEREAS, Throughout D-Day, other mis-dropped paratroopers
from mixed elements of the 101st, even some from the 82nd
Airborne, arrived at the farm, thereby strengthening the

HR0763 - 2 - LRB103 40136 MST 71826 r
American defense against repeated enemy counter-attacks; the
paratroopers held firm until relieved on the early morning of
June 7, 1944 by lead elements of 4th Infantry Division; and
WHEREAS, On June 6, 2012, the Eternal Heroes Memorial was
inaugurated in Ravenoville to honor the Raveno Boys, whose
heroic stand made a significant contribution to the success of
the amphibious landings on Utah Beach and ultimately the
Allied invasion of Normandy on D-Day; and
WHEREAS, Among their number were five gallant sons of
Illinois, Thomas F. Cahill Jr. of Cook County, Clifford S.
Emerick of Washington County, John A. Powers of Peoria County,
Joseph P. Powers of Peoria County, and Louis J. Venditti of
Cook County; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we declare June 6-7, 2024 as Eternal Heroes Memorial Days in
memory of the Illinois Raveno Boys; and be it further