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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The Members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives recognize the
importance of Illinoisans 
4honoring our historic connection to Abraham Lincoln; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Petersburg is celebrating the 50th anniversary of 
6the Lincoln
Heritage Water Trail with the running of the 2015 
7Abe's River Race; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Illinois citizens, visitors, and participants in 
9Abe's River Race are able to
explore a 12-mile portion of the 
10lower Sangamon River as it flows north from Sangamon
County to 
11Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site in Petersburg; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, In 1965, then Governor Otto Kerner signed 
13legislation creating the trail in
order to open up the river 
14valley as a living tribute, providing greater public access to 
15land and
waters largely unchanged since Lincoln's time; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, The goals of the Lincoln
Heritage Water Trail 
17include not only promoting community
recreation, but also 
18expanding public access to our cultural history and enhancing 
19stewardship of
our local environment; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The Sangamon River was cherished for its economic 
 
 
HR0493- 2 -LRB099 12418 MST 35707 r

1potential and natural
beauty in the days of Illinois' greatest 
2hero and it remains just as important to the lives of our 
3people
today; therefore, be it
  
 
4    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
5NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
6join in celebrating the
50th anniversary of the Lincoln 
7Heritage Water Trail and recognize the importance of 
8strengthening Illinois communities through engaging cultural 
9and recreational activities; and be it further
  
 
10    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
11presented to the Lincoln Heritage
Water Trail Association as a 
12fitting symbol of our esteem and respect on the 50th 
13anniversary of
the trail's designation.