Continuing her efforts to urge the United States Congress to authorize president, Joe Biden to honor Korean War Veterans with Congressional Gold Medals, State representative Stephanie Kifowit, (D-Oswego), met with senator Tammy Duckworth to officially present her with a Senate Joint Resolution passed by the Illinois General Assembly.
“The Korean War Veterans deserve this honor and recognition,” said Kifowit. “It is my mission to accomplish this goal. There is nothing political, nothing controversial about this resolution. It’s about doing what is right.”
Kifowit met with senator Duckworth at the Phillips Park Sunken Garden Veterans Memorial in Aurora.
“What is great about what Rep. Kifowit has done here is she’s given me the ability to go forward and say, ‘my State wants this, my veterans, the hundreds of thousands of veterans in Illinois want this,’ ” said Duckworth. “This resolution is evidence of it. We’re going to make this happen.”
Attending this meeting was Korean War veteran Army Sergeant First Class Willard Fruits, a vibrant 90-year old from Montgomery. He is understandably emotional when he speaks about the possibility of the Korean veterans receiving this honor. “This means a great deal, we’re being honored and not forgotten,” said Fruits. “There are a lot of guys that didn’t come back.”
Kifowit formally has presented the resolution to U.S. congressman Bill Foster, (D-Illinois) and he is equally determined to help the Korean Veterans receive this honor.
“I can’t say enough about the support of my colleagues in Springfield and the determination of senator Duckworth and Congressman Foster to never forget our Korean War Veterans,” said Kifowit. “I am confident that we will get this done.”
—Representative Stephanie Kifowit, MPA, USMC Veteran 90-94, IL House District 84