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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances
3founded the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. on May 21,
41881 after hearing of the Swiss-inspired global Red Cross
5network while visiting Europe following the American Civil War;
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, The American Red Cross is one of the largest
8humanitarian social service organizations in the country; it
9was first charted by the United States Congress in 1900; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Mrs. Williams T. Lewis and a group of local
11friends and colleagues held the first meeting of the Red Cross
12in Springfield at 503 South 7th street during the fall of 1916;
13and
 
14    WHEREAS, The group had 1,300 enrollments and was recognized
15as an official chapter on March 30, 1917; and
 
16    WHEREAS, The Sangamon Valley Chapter of the American Red
17Cross increased area membership to 12,980 volunteers that same
18year; volunteers of this group provided support and assistance
19to the Mattoon/Charleston area in the aftermath of a May 1917
20tornado, its first disaster response; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Area Red Cross members provided care for more than
2300 patients during the 1918 influenza epidemic and
3successfully started two war funds that raised $90,971.71 and
4$132,962.37 respectfully in 1918; and
 
5    WHEREAS, The tireless efforts of Red Cross volunteers
6continue in our community, our State, and in our Nation during
7disasters, when someone needs lifesaving blood, or
8around-the-clock support to members of the military and their
9families; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Volunteer assistance and financial contributions
11are needed now more than ever before to respond to the nearly
1264,000 disasters that occur across our nation annually; and
 
13    WHEREAS, For these past 100 years, the American Red Cross
14has had a long history of helping neighbors in need and it
15continues to be part of the greater Springfield community,
16helping citizens to learn, to help, and to care; and
 
17    WHEREAS, The American Red Cross is a full partner with the
18State of Illinois; during times of disaster it is the lead
19agency providing care to our citizens; it supports our Illinois
20military personnel by providing biomedical supplies on a 24
21hour non-stop basis, and is a charter member of the Illinois
22Terrorism Task Force, IN which they continue to participate to

 

 

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1ensure the security of Illinois; and
 
2    WHEREAS, More than 90% of the Red Cross mission is
3delivered through the work and support of volunteers; the Red
4Cross depends on local heroes to deliver help during disasters
5both near and far; therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
7HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8declare March 30, 2017 as Red Cross Centennial Day in the State
9of Illinois, and we urge all residents to donate their time and
10their resources in support of the American Red Cross; and be it
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a community celebration will be held at 503
13South 7th Street, where the Springfield Red Cross will show
14appreciation for 100 years of service to the community and
15further dedicate themselves to ensure that its mission remains
16strong and vital for the next 100 years in Springfield and in
17the United States; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19presented to the Springfield chapter of the Red Cross.