HR0183 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0183 LRB096 10823 GRL 21044 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate and thank the members of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission for their outstanding work in preparing for the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has been hard at work preparing over 50 events throughout the State of Illinois to celebrate the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest Presidents in American history and resident of this great State, on the occasion of his 200th birthday; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln was born in Kentucky in 1809 and spent his boyhood in Indiana; at the age of 11, he and his family moved to Illinois; living in the frontier town of New Salem, he entered business and politics and was initially unsuccessful at both; and

WHEREAS, Once he became established as a lawyer, legislator, and leader, Abraham Lincoln moved 20 miles to the southeast in 1837 to the new State capital of Springfield, where he bought a home for his family and practiced law; in May of 1844, Lincoln moved his young family into a home he bought in Springfield for $1,200; the home, currently the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, now encompasses 13 homes in a four-block district and is the only national park in Illinois; Lincoln made additions to his home, the only one he ever owned, and it was expanded from three to 10 rooms to accommodate his growing family; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln lived in Springfield until February 11, 1861, when he departed for Washington, D.C. to serve as the 16th President of the United States; sadly, his death on April 15, 1865 turned Lincoln's triumphant return to Springfield into a time of national mourning; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln's ties to the City of Springfield are significant; the Old State Capitol on the downtown square in Springfield is famous as the place where Lincoln delivered his "House Divided" speech and where his body lay in state while mourners streamed past his open coffin after his death; as part of the bicentennial celebration, the Old State Capitol has been used for numerous events, including a "day of gospel", the issue of four new Lincoln stamps, and a naturalization ceremony for swearing in new citizens; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln's legacy is well known throughout the State of Illinois, the United States, and the world at large; he is commemorated in music, poetry, and sculpture; his words are quoted regularly by poets and politicians; his face has adorned stamps, coins, and currency and mountains, cities, highways, and schools bare his name, fitting tributes to this great man and what his work has done for the United States and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln has defined the civic ideal of what is means to be an American; his wisdom, eloquence, and unyielding character still serves as a shining example of how 21st century Americans can and should live their lives; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate and thank the members of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission for their outstanding work in preparing for the celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the members of the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission as a symbol of our esteem and respect.