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| | HR0086 | | LRB097 07169 KXB 50110 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, April 6, 2011, marks the 691st anniversary of the |
| 3 | | signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, in which |
| 4 | | Scotland declared its independence from England; the |
| 5 | | Declaration of Arbroath is one of the precursors of the United |
| 6 | | States Declaration of Independence; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, Almost half of the 56 signers of the Declaration |
| 8 | | of Independence and 9 of the Governors of the original 13 |
| 9 | | colonies were of Scottish descent; and
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| 10 | | WHEREAS, More than 11 million Americans can trace their |
| 11 | | roots back to Scotland; and
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| 12 | | WHEREAS, Illinois is home to various festivals and games |
| 13 | | featuring Scottish culture that are held annually across the |
| 14 | | State; and
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| 15 | | WHEREAS, Established in 1845, the Illinois Saint Andrews |
| 16 | | Society is the oldest charitable organization in Illinois; |
| 17 | | their motto is: nourishing Scottish identity through service, |
| 18 | | fellowship, and the celebration of Scottish culture; their |
| 19 | | principal charity is the Scottish Home, a nursing home that the |
| 20 | | Society built in 1910 and has supported for 100 years; the |
| 21 | | Society also provides scholarships to bright, talented young |
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| | HR0086 | - 2 - | LRB097 07169 KXB 50110 r |
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| 1 | | students and hosts events to help families learn about Scottish |
| 2 | | culture, art, music, dance, and literature, including the |
| 3 | | Scottish Festival and Highland Games; and
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| 4 | | WHEREAS, The Scottish cultural identity reflects |
| 5 | | individualism, a strong work ethic, family loyalty, |
| 6 | | patriotism, and faith in God; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, Citizens of both the State of Illinois and |
| 8 | | Scotland are first in the defense of rights and freedom; and
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| 9 | | WHEREAS, The Scottish people, with their self-reliance and |
| 10 | | unbending spirit, helped to shape the unmistakable character of |
| 11 | | their country and the State of Illinois; therefore, be it
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| 12 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |
| 13 | | NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 14 | | we commend the more than 200 organizations throughout the |
| 15 | | United States that honor Scottish heritage, tradition, and |
| 16 | | culture, representing the hundreds of thousands of Americans of |
| 17 | | Scottish descent, residing in every state, who have already |
| 18 | | made the observance of National Tartan Day on April 6 a |
| 19 | | success; and be it further
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| 20 | | RESOLVED, That we proclaim April as Scottish Heritage Month |
| 21 | | in the State of Illinois.
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