HR0953 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0953 LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the citizens of Rockford and Ferentino, Italy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their sister city partnership; and

WHEREAS, Rockford has a substantial and vibrant Italian American population that celebrates its ancestral heritage, including many families and individuals who trace their ancestral roots to Ferentino, an ancient, pre-Roman era hill town southeast of Rome; these families and their descendants have grown to become an integral and cherished part of the Rockford community, enriching its cultural, civic, and social fabric for generations; and

WHEREAS, Since the late 1800s, thousands of immigrants made the journey from Ferentino to Rockford, building homes, businesses, churches, and institutions that have shaped the identity of the city; their descendants, now numbering in the thousands, remain a vibrant and active part of the Rockford community, preserving Italian traditions while contributing to the greater civic and cultural life of the region; and

WHEREAS, Immigrants to Rockford from Ferentino founded the Society of Saint Ambrogio Martyr Mutual Benefit Society (Saint Ambrogio Society) in 1918, which is still in active operation today, standing as a testament to the enduring bonds between the two communities and the dedication of Ferentino-descended families to preserving their shared heritage; and

WHEREAS, Efforts to establish an Italian sister city to Rockford began in 2005 through family ties in both Rockford and Ferentino, leading to robust community efforts in both cities to formalize the lasting connections that have linked the people of Rockford and Ferentino for over a century; and

WHEREAS, The Italian Sister City Committee was formed in Rockford in 2005 to facilitate the ongoing communication between citizens and officials from Rockford and Ferentino to promote and support a sister city agreement between the two cities; and

WHEREAS, A delegation of nine public officials from the Ferentino City Council and the Pro Loco Association visited Rockford for a week in May 2006, where they took part in several official meetings and activities that culminated in the signing of a sister city agreement by Mayor Larry Morrissey of Rockford and Mayor Piergianni Fiorletta of Ferentino at Rockford City Hall on May 15, 2006; and

WHEREAS, A volunteer-based entity, the Rockford Italian Sister Cities Association (RISCA), has organized and sponsored activities over the past two decades in support of this partnership, which have included international visitor exchanges, student pen pal programs, peace pole installations, gift exchanges, creation of the Italian Sister City garden and a plaque at Rockford's Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, participation in the Rockford Sister Cities Advisory Commission, and cultural displays at the Rockford and Ferentino city halls and at Rockford's Festa Italiana, Midway Village Museum, Discovery Center Museum, Public Library, and Ethnic Heritage Museum; and

WHEREAS, The 20th anniversary of this historic partnership is a milestone that reflects 20 years of friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual respect between two communities bound by shared history, shared values, and the enduring spirit of their people, both in Italy and in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, The 20th anniversary of this historic event will be recognized in Rockford and in Ferentino and be celebrated by RISCA's hosting of commemorative activities; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the citizens of Rockford and Ferentino, Italy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their sister city partnership in recognition of the thousands of Ferentino-descended individuals who have made and continue to make Rockford a richer, stronger, and more vibrant community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend the Saint Ambrogio Society, Rockford's other Italian social clubs, and all of the many organizations, businesses, and countless individuals and elected officials, here and abroad, that have worked to sustain the steadfast bonds between Rockford and Ferentino for over a century; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the cities of Rockford and Ferentino and representatives of the Rockford Italian Sister Cities Alliance (RISCA) as an expression of our esteem and respect.