[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1223 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1223

Honoring the service and accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel John M. 
                  Shimkus, United States Army Reserve.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2008

    Mr. Buyer (for himself, Mr. Boehner, Mr. Blunt, Mr. LaHood, Mr. 
Hulshof, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Barrett of South Carolina, Mr. Tiahrt, 
Mr. Barton of Texas, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Hunter, Mr. Shuster, Mr. Wamp, 
Mr. Flake, Mr. Goode, Mr. McCotter, Mr. Rush, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, 
  Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Emanuel, Mr. Roskam, Mr. Davis of 
 Illinois, Ms. Bean, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Weller of Illinois, 
 Mr. Costello, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Foster, Mr. Johnson of Illinois, Mr. 
 Manzullo, and Mr. Hare) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the service and accomplishments of Lieutenant Colonel John M. 
                  Shimkus, United States Army Reserve.

Whereas Lieutenant Colonel John M. Shimkus, United States Army Reserve, was born 
        on February 21, 1958, in East St. Louis, Illinois;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus graduated from the United States Military 
        Academy at West Point, New York, in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in 
        general engineering;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus graduated from Southern Illinois University 
        in Edwardsville, Illinois, in 1997, with a master of business 
        administration;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic 
        Course, Infantry Mortar Platoon Officers Course, Jungle Warfare School, 
        Airborne School, Ranger School, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and 
        the Master Fitness Trainer Course;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus is a graduate of the Reserve Component 
        Combined Armed Services Staff School;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus attended the Reserve Component Command and 
        General Staff College;
Whereas following Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus's entry into the Army, he served at 
        the tip of the spear of the cold war as an infantry officer with the 1st 
        Platoon, 54th Infantry in Bamberg, Germany, where he was our Nation's 
        sentry, ready to fight at a moment's notice against Soviet tanks rolling 
        toward the Fulda Gap;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus continued his commitment to selfless duty 
        when, after serving more than 5 years on active duty in the Army, he 
        transitioned to the Army Reserve;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus served in many leadership positions in the 
        Army Reserve, which included 7 years as a United States Military Academy 
        Liaison Officer, where he helped our Nation select the best candidates 
        to become future leaders of the Army;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus was elected to public office for the first 
        time in 1989 as a township trustee in Collinsville, Illinois;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus was elected to serve his first term as a 
        Representative from the 20th District of Illinois in 1996 in the 105th 
        Congress, and has continued to dutifully dedicate his service as a 
        statesman in the 106th, 107th, 108th, 109th, and, presently, the 110th 
        Congresses;
Whereas over a multifaceted career of distinguished public service dedicated to 
        the preservation of the principles upon which our Nation was founded, 
        from his plebe days at West Point to the halls of Congress, in his every 
        step Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus has embodied the epitome of excellence 
        in statesmanship, service to country, and to his fellow citizens;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus's commitment to public service commands the 
        Nation's highest respect and gratitude;
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus embodies all 7 Army core values: loyalty, 
        duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage; 
        and
Whereas Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus has had a tremendous positive impact on the 
        Army Reserve: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors Lieutenant Colonel John M. Shimkus for his 
        service of over 28 years on the occasion of his retirement from 
        the Army Reserve on June 1, 2008;
            (2) commends Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus for his dedication 
        and commitment to excellence as an infantry officer and leader;
            (3) recognizes the tremendous dedication and fortitude with 
        which Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus has led an exemplary career in 
        public service, three times the citizen, having balanced his 
        time in the Army Reserve with the demanding duties of his roles 
        as husband, father, businessman, community leader, high school 
        teacher, citizen-soldier, and Congressman with consummate 
        professionalism and boundless devotion to each; and
            (4) recognizes Lieutenant Colonel Shimkus as a soldier, 
        leader, and statesman, for displaying the highest levels of 
        leadership, professional competence, integrity, and moral 
        courage throughout his distinguished military service.
                                 <all>