SPRINGFIELD, IL (03/24/2011)(readMedia)-- In 2007, March 25 was recognized as National Medal of Honor day. Every year since then it has been the official day that honors the servicemembers of the U.S. military who's actions of valor inspired generations and the nation.

While the day was made official only three years ago, the legacy of the Medal of Honor and the servicemembers who were awarded it span more than 150 years of Illinois history.

President Abraham Lincoln, a veteran of the Illinois Militia, signed a bill issuing the highest military decoration on July 12, 1862. He called it the Medal of Honor. The medal stands as a symbol of the bravery and selflessness individuals display in combat.

There are many aspects that link today's military to the military that existed during the Revolutionary War. The characteristics that remain in the Army today are the core values loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

According to military regulation the Medal of Honor is awarded by the President in the name of Congress to a person in the U.S. military who distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States. Military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his comrades and must have involved risk of life.

There are many examples in Illinois like 1st Sgt. Johannes S. Anderson of Finland, who entered service from Chicago, assigned the Illinois National Guard's Company B, 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for actions at Consenvoye, France during World War I.

His citation reads "While his company was being held up by intense artillery and machinegun fire, First Sergeant. Anderson, without aid, voluntarily left the company and worked his way to the rear of the (machinegun) nest that was offering the most stubborn resistance. His advance was made through an open area and under constant hostile fire, but the mission was successfully accomplished, and he not only silenced the gun and captured it, but also brought back with him 23 prisoners."

Anderson was one of many heroes that served in the Illinois National Guard or Militia who received the medal for valor in the battlefield. His medal among many other artifacts can be seen at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield.

The Army regulation recognizes the incontestable proof of the performance of the service will be exacted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.

All of the men who received the Medal of Honor have done just that. The Medal of Honor is presented to those who make a major sacrifice and some who make the ultimate sacrifice. Those who were killed in action were awarded the medal posthumously.

As President George W. Bush said regarding the Medal of Honor, "Citations are also written in the most simple of language, needing no embellishment or techniques of rhetoric. They record places and names and events that describe themselves. The medal itself bears only one word and needs only one, valor."

Illinois has produced many Medal of Honor recipients beginning with the Civil War.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that a total of $1,034,954 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be coming to thirteen communities across Iowa.  These funds will provide assistance to public and private groups to enable participating families to increase earned income and financial literacy and to reduce or eliminate the need for welfare assistance that these individuals are now receiving. Harkin is a Senior Member of the Appropriations Committee that allocates funding for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

"I am pleased to see that so many Iowans will have access to assistance designed to help them become self-sufficient and no longer in need of government help," said Harkin. "It is very important for Iowans to know how to both spend wisely and be able to increase their incomes. This funding is designed to help individuals do just that."

The funds are provided by the HUD Housing Choice Voucher-Family Self Sufficiency Program. The FSS program and the FSS NOFA support the department's strategic goal of utilizing housing as a platform for improving quality of life by helping HUD-assisted renters increase economic security and self-sufficiency.    

Details of those receiving the grants are below.

• Central Iowa Region Housing Authority, $57,529
• City of Cedar Rapids, $138,000
• City of Des Moines Municipal Agency, $132,973
• City of Dubuque Housing and CD Department, $63,478
• City of Sioux City Housing Authority, $138,000
• Eastern Iowa Regional Housing Authority, $133,940
• Iowa City Housing Authority, $54,394
• Mid Iowa Regional Housing Authority $47,055
• Municipal Housing Agency of Council Bluffs, $85,570
• City of Muscatine, $55,309
• Region XII Regional Housing Authority, $45,000
• Southern Iowa Regional Housing Authority, $43,850

Grassley is now asking Customs and Border Protection for information about reportedly stopping Blas Gutierrez and Miguel Carrillo near the Mexican border.  The two were recently indicted as part of a gun trafficking operation involving the mayor of Columbus, New Mexico.  Additionally, Grassley is asking about allegations that Customs and Border Protection stopped Jaime Avila, who was recently indicted as the straw purchaser of weapons found at the scene of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry's murder.  In both instances, Border Patrol agents allegedly found the gun runners to be in possession of multiple weapons, but let the suspects proceed for unknown reasons.

"No longer can this administration stand idly by and answer every question by saying that the Justice Department Inspector General is investigating.  There is too much at stake.  U.S. agents may have been killed because of a tragically ill-advised policy," Grassley said.  "The President said a serious mistake may have been made here, and that, if so, he would hold someone accountable.  It is clearer every day that serious mistakes were made.  Now it's time for accountability."

Grassley's letter to Customs and Border Protection (March 16, 2011) made a specific request for officials knowledgeable about the agency's involvement in Operation Fast and Furious be made available at a briefing that was already scheduled to take place with Grassley staff. Customs and Border Protection did not make officials available and there have been no attempts by the agency to schedule a subsequent briefing when officials would be available to answer the questions in Grassley's letter.  Click here to read Grassley's latest inquiry to Customs and Border Protection.

Grassley's letters to the administration about the policy of letting guns walk can be found on his website, Grassley.senate.gov.

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CHICAGO - March 25, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today called on homes and businesses throughout Illinois to participate in Earth Hour 2011, an international effort to encourage responsible energy practices by turning off non-essential lights for one hour during the last weekend of March.

"Protecting our environment today and for future generations is one of my top priorities," said Governor Quinn. "By turning out our lights for an hour on March 26, the people of Illinois will show their continued commitment to commonsense, sustainable energy practices."

The state of Illinois will participate in Earth Day by turning out the lights in the Executive Mansion in Springfield and the James R. Thompson Center and Michael A. Bilandic Building in Chicago from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26th.

These actions coincide with other famous landmarks around the world also going dark, including Chicago's Willis Tower, Field Museum, Navy Pier and Wrigley Building.

Earth Day was first organized by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007 to support efforts to reduce light pollution, energy waste and climate change and has since gained hundreds of millions of participants around the world. For more information about Earth Hour 2011 and Illinois' other environmental initiatives, visit www.worldwildlife.org and www.green.Illinois.gov.

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