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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The life and presidency of President Abraham 
3Lincoln are integral to the identity and character of this 
4great nation; his sudden passing is an indelible mark upon 
5history; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln's statesmanship began in the 
7State of Illinois; following his establishment as a lawyer and 
8legislator, the State capital of Springfield became his home in 
91837; and
  
 
10    WHEREAS, Springfield was the home of Lincoln's family until 
11February 11, 1861, when he departed for Washington D.C. to 
12serve as the 16th President of the United States until his 
13death on April 15, 1865; and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, President Lincoln's body was returned to 
15Springfield on May 3, 1865, as the nation mourned his passing; 
16he was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery on May 4, 1865; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The Illinois Senate is compelled to acknowledge 
18and commend the exceptional effort to preserve and honor the 
19legacy of Abraham Lincoln for this State and our nation; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition will be 
 
 
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1honoring the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln with a 
2commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the President's final 
3return to Springfield, his home and final resting place; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The mission of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition 
5(1865-2015) is to educate, coordinate, and promote the accurate 
6and dignified reenactment of the historic anniversary of 
7Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession in Springfield; and
 
8    WHEREAS, This extraordinary event will begin with 
9symposiums starting in April of 2015 and culminate with the 
10reenactment of the original 1865 funeral during a 3-day 
11historic experience from May 1-3, 2015; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The event's symposiums and reenactment will serve 
13as a valuable resource to inform, educate, and enlighten the 
14citizens of this State and the nation; therefore, be it
  
 
15    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL 
16ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the days 
17of April 28, 2013 to May 4, 2013 as Abraham Lincoln Memorial 
18Week to acknowledge the efforts of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral 
19Coalition, and show our gratitude to the Coalition's members, 
20advisors, partners, and participants for their mission to 
21preserve and honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln as they 
22prepare for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the 
 
 
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1President's final return to Springfield; and be it further
  
 
2    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
3presented to the members of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition 
4as a token of our esteem.