093_HR0195 LRB093 11404 HSS 13970 r 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, Cuba was a colony of Spain; in 1895, the Cubans 3 began the war to obtain independence; and 4 WHEREAS, In 1898, after the USS Maine was destroyed, the 5 United States declared war on Spain, which ended in Spanish 6 defeat; and 7 WHEREAS, The United States stayed in Cuba until 1902 8 helping Cubans with the establishment of the first free 9 government; on May 20, 1902, the Cuban flag was hoisted for 10 the first time, and the independence of Cuba was declared; 11 therefore, be it 12 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 13 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 14 we name May 20, 2003 as Cuban Independence Day in the State 15 of Illinois.