HR1297 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1297 LRB094 20506 HSS 58795 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The General Assembly of the State of Illinois has a long history of caring for the welfare of children, those who have no one to care for them; and

WHEREAS, In 1863, the General Assembly incorporated the Springfield Home for the Friendless to aid orphan children and widows left homeless by the Civil War; and

WHEREAS, There were 52 children that died in January of 1865 and are buried together at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Block 4, at an inadequately mark burial site; and

WHEREAS, The Home for the Friendless Renovation Project is working to erect a limestone wall depicting the names of the children as an appropriate memorial; and

WHEREAS, A reception to raise funds for the completion of the project will be held at the Pasfield House in Springfield, the former residence of George Pasfield Jr.; Mr. Pasfield served as the Home's Vice President and was part of a family tradition that dated back to his grandfather, who was listed in the original Illinois legislation adopted on February 12, 1863, which created the Home for the Friendless; George Pasfield's father, Dr. Pasfield, also served the Home in various Vice President positions and for over 10 years as President, and his wife served as a senior member of the Lady Board of Managers; and

WHEREAS, Today, the successor of the Home for the Friendless, the Family Service Center of Sangamon County, continues to serve the community in related ways and was recognized with an Illinois State Historical Society Centennial Award in 2001 and by the City of Springfield for continuously serving the community in its current role; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Oak Ridge Cemetery Home for the Friendless Project and its officers, Luann Johnson, and the other Oak Ridge Cemetery Board Members be recognized for their dedication and service; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Oak Ridge Cemetery Board of Directors and Mr. Tony Leone, the reception host at the upcoming fundraiser at the Pasfield House on May 25, 2005, as an expression of our esteem.