On Sunday afternoon, Governor Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2225 which creates Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield license plates for Illinois veterans who earned the Southwest Asia Service Medal during their deployment. The bill was introduced into the Senate by State Senator Sue Rezin (R-Morris) and navigated the House with the help of chief co-sponsor State Representative Jerry Long (R-Streator). The bill received unanimous support in both the House and Senate and went straight to the Governor’s desk. The bill was signed into law at the State of Illinois fairgrounds on Gold Star Family Day.
“I want to thank one of my constituents who served in Operation Desert Storm and who brought this idea forward,” State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris said. “If our veterans who served in Southwest Asia want to be able to have on their license plate that they served our country, they should be able to do that. I want to thank all our veterans for their service, selflessness, and bravery. You are the backbone of our great country.”
“The Veterans of Desert Storm and Desert Shield deserve this recognition for their service to our country and our state,” said Representative Long. “It is heart-warming when legislation that honors our Veterans receives such overwhelming bi-partisan support. Legislators on both sides of the aisle were thrilled to sign on as co-sponsors when it was first introduced. It’s important that we recognize those who selflessly put their lives on the line for us.”