HR0408LRB101 12536 ALS 60878 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate the McLean County
4Historical Society/Bloomington-Normal Black History Project on
5the revitalization of its Juneteenth Celebration; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Dating back to 1865, Juneteenth is the oldest
7known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the
8United States; it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led
9by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas
10with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now
11free; with this news, the Blacks went from shock to rejoicing
12and chose to celebrate their new-found freedom with
13inspirational speeches, songs, dances, and food that
14celebrated their heritage; and
 
15    WHEREAS, With the same spirit of the earlier celebrations,
16Bloomington-Normal held its first Juneteenth Celebration,
17sponsored by the Bloomington-Normal Black History Project, in
181993; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Juneteenth Celebration acknowledges the
20contributions of African Americans in the community through
21history, music, dance, storytelling, speeches, and food and
22fellowship; and
 

 

 

HR0408- 2 -LRB101 12536 ALS 60878 r

1    WHEREAS, The McLean County Historical
2Society/Bloomington-Normal Black History Project is hosting
3its Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at Miller
4Park; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we congratulate the McLean County Historical
8Society/Bloomington-Normal Black History Project on the
9revitalization of its Juneteenth Celebration and commend its
10mission to enrich the community with the history of the
11Juneteenth Celebration; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented the McLean County Historical
14Society/Bloomington-Normal Black History Project as an
15expression of our esteem and respect.