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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the 
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Will County Historical Society and the Give Something Back 
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Foundation on the occasion of the dedication of the Lincoln 
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Landing, the singular park located in historic downtown 
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Lockport; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Created by a donation from Bob and Jill Carr, 
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former residents of Lockport, the Give Something Back 
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Foundation is a privately-funded civic organization committed 
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to helping financially disadvantaged children, who are 
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committed to academic excellence, to complete a college degree; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Will County Historical Society is the 
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storyteller of the history of Will County, having planned and 
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executed many public activities and events to showcase the rich 
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history of the county and its residents; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The connection of Abraham Lincoln to the City of 
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Lockport is considerable; citing the need for improved 
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transportation in northeastern Illinois, a young man named 
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Abraham Lincoln and eight other legislators, dubbed "The Long 
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Nine", proposed a canal that would connect Lake Michigan and 
 


 






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the Illinois River; the City of Lockport would become the 
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headquarters of the new canal, which would be named the 
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Illinois & Michigan Canal; the I & M Canal and the City of 
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Lockport would not be forgotten by Lincoln, who would go on to 
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proclaim the canal's completion and opening to the House of 
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Representatives in 1848 and sign legislation as President to 
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use the I & M Canal to transport cannon and armaments for the 
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Union Army to use in the Battle of Vicksburg during the Civil 
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War; following his assassination in 1865, his body was carried 
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through Lockport on the way to Springfield on the city's 
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railroad tracks; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The planning and construction of Lincoln Landing 
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was funded by the Give Something Back Foundation, with the 
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construction site located on land owned by the Will County 
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Historical Society; the park features a one of a kind statue of 
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Abraham Lincoln and educational bronze medallions that contain 
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information regarding the national implications of Lincoln, 
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Lockport, and the Illinois & Michigan Canal; in addition, a 
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curriculum is being created in conjunction with nine school 
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districts in the area and their teachers for use directly in 
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the classroom, the only project of its kind in the nation; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Lincoln Landing has recently been endorsed by the 
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Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in Washington, D.C., a 
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testament to the park's focus on Lincoln and his contributions 
 


 






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to our nation; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Thanks to the combined efforts of the Will County 
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Historical Society and the Give Something Back Foundation, 
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Lincoln Landing will serve as a source of education and 
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enlightenment for many generations of citizens who wish to 
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learn about the life and legacy of our 16th president; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the members of the Will County Historical Society 
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and the Give Something Back Foundation on the occasion of the 
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dedication of Lincoln Landing and wish them continued success 
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with their future endeavors; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
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presented to the Will County Historical Society and the Give 
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Something Back Foundation as a symbol of our esteem and 
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respect.