HR1194 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1194 LRB097 22450 GRL 71269 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The life and presidency of President Abraham Lincoln are integral to the identity and character of this great nation, and his sudden passing is an indelible mark upon history; and

WHEREAS, Abraham Lincoln's statesmanship began in the State of Illinois; following his establishment as a lawyer and legislator, the State capital of Springfield became his home in 1837; and

WHEREAS, Springfield was the home of Lincoln's family until February 11, 1861, when he departed for Washington D.C. to serve as the 16th President of the United States until his death on April 15, 1865; and

WHEREAS, President Lincoln's body was returned to Springfield on May 3, 1865, as the nation mourned his passing; he was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery on May 4, 1865; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois House of Representatives is compelled to acknowledge and commend the exceptional effort to preserve and honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln for this State and our nation; and

WHEREAS, The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition will be honoring the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln with a commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the President's final return to Springfield, his home and final resting place; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition (1865-2015) is to educate, coordinate, and promote the accurate and dignified reenactment of the historic anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession in Springfield; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary event will begin with symposiums starting in April of 2015 and culminate with the reenactment of the original 1865 funeral during a 3-day historic experience from May 1-3, 2015; and

WHEREAS, The event's symposiums and reenactment will serve as a valuable resource to inform, educate, and enlighten the citizens of this State and the nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we commend the efforts of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition and thank the Coalition's members, advisors, partners, and participants for their mission to preserve and honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln as they prepare for the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the President's final return to Springfield; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the members of the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition as a token of our esteem.