Illinois WWII Service Award

At the end of World War I the State of Illinois made plans to award it’s war veterans with a medal for their service. A design in the shape of a cross was proposed but as time rolled on the cross never materialized. My guess is that the state budget was too tight to finance the expense of producing the large number of medals required and by the early 1920’s when the Federal WWI Victory medals were issued all was forgotten. In 1945 with the victorious conclusion of WWII the same clash of good intentions and budgetary restraints must have reappeared. This time the state of Illinois solved the problem by turning to the printing press, just like governments do when money is tight, and printed award certificates for it’s veterans. Some held the certificates in high regard and framed them while others just left them in the mailing envelope like the one illustrated below.