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92_HR0433 LRB9209122RHrhA 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of 3 the ending of slavery; and 4 WHEREAS, It was on June 19, 1865 that the Union soldiers, 5 led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, 6 Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that the 7 enslaved were now free; and 8 WHEREAS, Although President Abraham Lincoln's 9 Emancipation Proclamation was made official on January 1, 10 1863, it had little effect in Texas due to the minimal number 11 of Union troops to enforce the executive order; however, with 12 the surrender of General Robert E. Lee in 1865, and the 13 arrival of Major General Granger's regiment, the forces were 14 finally strong enough to influence and overcome the 15 resistance; and 16 WHEREAS, The celebration of June 19th was coined 17 "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation from 18 descendents of slaves; the celebration is a time for 19 reassuring each other, for praying, and for gathering 20 remaining family members; it continues to be highly revered 21 in Texas, decades later, with many former slaves and 22 descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on 23 June 19th; and 24 WHEREAS, Juneteenth today celebrates African-American 25 freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for 26 all cultures; this celebration has continued to enjoy a 27 growing and healthy interest from communities and 28 organizations across the country seeking to promote and 29 cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African-American 30 history and culture; therefore, be it 31 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE -2- LRB9209122RHrhA 1 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 2 we designate June 19, 2001 as "Juneteenth Day" in the State 3 of Illinois in appreciation of African-American history and 4 culture.