Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The final days of the Illinois General Assembly’s spring session include Memorial Day, and State Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry), a 24-year Air Force veteran, paid tribute.

“Memorial Day began after the Civil War, originally called Decoration Day,” said Wilcox on the Senate floor Monday afternoon. “Communities across the nation honored fallen soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers. During the Civil War, almost one in fifty Americans died in combat, so the agony of and importance of Decoration Day was very personal for almost every family.”

The Illinois House was not in session Monday.