Peoria Standard

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) has proposed renaming a part of Interstate 55 after Illinois native and World War II hero John W. Frederick Jr.

"House Joint Resolution 37 would designate Interstate 155 from Interstate 74 to Illinois Route 9 as Chief Warrant Officer 4 John W. Frederick Jr. Memorial Highway," Butler said in a video posted to YouTube. 

According to Butler, Frederick first enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1942 and during 40 combat missions in World War II he served as a tail gunner and radar operator. Frederick also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. In 1965, he was shot down over North Vietnam and held as a prisoner for over 2,400 days before dying in captivity. His remains were returned here to the United States on March 13, 1974 and he is now buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Tremont.

Butler has also been busy speaking out in support of House Joint Resolution 7, which seeks to end all remnants of forced servitude in the U.S. Constitution.

While the 13th Amendment ended slavery, supporters of the measure point out it does not prevent those in prison from being exploited as cheap labor by major companies including, Walmart and AT&T, according to the support proposal known as House Joint Resolution 7.

With the House having recently adopted the measure, support among Republicans and Democrats has been tilting in favor of the proposal introduced by Rep. Mary Flowers (D-Chicago).

At its core, the resolution seeks to eliminate the last vestiges of slavery across the country by disallowing the provisions included in the "punishment clause" of the 13th amendment.

Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) is one of the Republicans speaking out in support of amending the U.S. Constitution to rid it of the clause.

"For [the] historical context of the 13th amendment, Illinois led the way on the 13th amendment," Butler told the Sangamon Sun. "It was President Lincoln. It was Sen. Lyman Trumbull, whose statue is right outside these doors, that authored the 13th Amendment and the Illinois House and Senate [was] the first legislature to act the next day after the U.S. House passed the 13th amendment. So, Illinois has a tremendously historic role in authoring and enacting this amendment.”

Butler also noted that states such as Utah and Nebraska have recently moved to strike out the provisions in their state constitutions.