HR0088 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0088 LRB096 11051 GRL 21369 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The celebration of a special Children's Day in the United States dates back to the 1860s and earlier; Children's Day observations predate both Mother's Day and Father's Day celebrations in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The people of the State of Illinois and the United States recognize Mother's Day and Father's Day, yet do not celebrate a Children's Day, a day to celebrate and commit to our children and their future and a day with deep historical roots in our country; and

WHEREAS, The Methodist Episcopal Church at the Methodist Conference of 1868 recommended that every second Sunday in June be annually observed as Children's Day; in 1883, the National Council of Congregational Churches and nearly all the state bodies of that denomination in the United States passed resolutions commending the observance of the day, with many other denominations adopting similar recommendations; and

WHEREAS, Children are tender and precious gifts to all mankind; they deserve to be given hope, faith, love, and commitment to allow them a successful and bright future; the very act of safeguarding childhood is the noblest achievement of a society; and

WHEREAS, Children need much more than just the basic necessities of being clean and safe; children must be celebrated and given a healthy social-emotional growth in order to become healthy and productive citizens; in addition, we must encourage them to maintain the innocence, imagination, and freedom of worry of their childhood; and

WHEREAS, The future of our society will be more successful and bright in knowing that our children are loved and well-cared for; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the second Sunday in June of each year as Children's Day in the State of Illinois.