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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE SNELL VFW POST 7186 AUXILIARY ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY
WHEREAS, the William B. Snell VFW Post 7186 Women’s Auxiliary was chartered on April 20, 1947 by the nation Veterans of Foreign Wars to support WWII veterans and their families. This followed the establishment of the William B. Snell Memorial VFW Post the previous year. They celebrate their 75th anniversary this year; and
WHEREAS, since its founding, Snell Post VFW Auxiliary members have continued to fulfill the mission of supporting the VFW, serving veterans and service members of all war eras and their families, and fostering patriotism throughout the community. Geri Sizemore has served as president of the Post for fourteen years; and
WHEREAS, Auxiliary members have volunteered millions of hours, donated millions of dollars, and honored hundreds of thousands of veterans over those seventy-five years. Even during the pandemic, the Auxiliary continued its work to stay true to its mission. Auxiliary members picked up nonperishable food items from the Levy Center to deliver to Primm Tower and Blake Robinson Manor, to other senior living centers in Evanston, and to the James Lovell Medical Center in North Chicago. They donated two cases of hand sanitizer and coffee to the Evanston Vet Center for visiting vets. For special luncheons at the Center, they donated food items and helped serve the food. They continued to place flags on the graves of vets at Sunset Memorial Gardens every year. When there couldn’t be a memorial service at Evanston’s Fountain Square due to the pandemic, President Sizemore and other women pulled together their own service to ensure that the veterans would be remembered; and
WHEREAS, the VFW traces its roots to 1899 when veterans of the Spanish-American War (1898) and the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1902) founded local organizations to secure rights and benefits for their service. Many arrived home wounded or sick. There was no medical care or veterans' pension for them, and they were left to care for themselves. In their misery, some of these veterans banded together and formed organizations with what would become known as the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States; and
WHEREAS, VFW and Auxiliary voices have been instrumental in establishing the Veterans Administration, creating a GI bill for the 20th century, the development of the national cemetery system, the fight for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange and for veterans diagnosed with Gulf War Syndrome. In 2008, VFW won a long-fought victory with the passage of a GI Bill for the 21st Century, giving expanded educational benefits to America's active-duty service members, and members of the Guard and Reserves, who have fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. The VFW also has fought for improving VA medical center services for women veterans; and
WHEREAS, in addition to helping fund the creation of the Vietnam, Korean War, World War II and Women in Military Service memorials, the VFW in 2005 became the first veterans' organization to contribute to building the new Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial, which opened in November 2010; and
WHEREAS, VFW Post 7186 is named after Sgt. William B. Snell, the first African American from Evanston to give his life in active duty during World War II. He died while fighting in Oren, North Africa.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County, honors the members, work, and contributions of the William B. Snell VFW Post 7186 Auxiliary, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions they have made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of same be tendered to Mrs. Geri Sizemore and to the Sergeant William B. Snell VFW Post 7186 Auxiliary.
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