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Honorary regiment for outstanding
citizens Under legislation
currently pending before the Illinois Senate, citizens who have made
outstanding contributions to their communities could land a
commission as an honorary colonel.
Senate Bill 1776 creates an honorary regiment of colonels, to be
known as the Governor's Regiment, within the Department of Military
Affairs. Individuals whose accomplishments, achievements or service
have contributed to the fellowship and good will of the state of
Illinois would be appointed by the governor to the regiment and
receive the honorary title of colonel.
This legislation is based on the
honorary regiment established in Kentucky. The title of "Kentucky
Colonel" has been around since the conclusion of the War of 1812.
Initially, the colonels actually served military roles, but near the
end of the 19th century, the position took on a more ceremonial
function. By the late 1920s, a group of colonels started talking
about forming a "society" whose mission would be to assist in the
advancement of Kentucky.
The honorary regiment in Illinois
would recognize the achievements of extraordinary citizens, as well
as create an organization whose sole purpose is to be an ambassador
of good will for the state. We want to assemble a group of people
who have already done great things for the state and ask them to
work together for the good of Illinois.
[to top of second column in this article]
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 New Americans workshops May 7 in
Bloomington
A New Americans Initiative
citizenship workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon on May 7 at the
Western Avenue Community Center, 600 N. Western Ave. in Bloomington.
A project of the Illinois Coalition
for Immigrant and Refugee Rights in cooperation with the Illinois
Department of Human Services, the New Americans Initiative is a
state-funded, multiyear campaign intended to link legal permanent
residents directly to the information and services they need to
successfully pursue citizenship.
For more information, call (309)
829-9231.
[From
Sen. Bill Brady]
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