HR0491 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0491 LRB094 12424 CSA 46752 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Slovak Catholic Sokol was founded by American Catholics of Slovak ancestry in the City of Passaic and the State of New Jersey on July 4, 1905; and

WHEREAS, The Slovak Catholic Sokol is observing its one hundredth anniversary during the year July 4, 2005 through July 4, 2006; and

WHEREAS, The Slovak Catholic Sokol, having the distinction of being America's greatest Slovak gymnastic and athletic fraternity, was organized for the purpose of benevolence and physical fitness, which it continues to practice since its inception, living up to the slogan of the organization, "A Sound Mind in a Sound Body"; and

WHEREAS, The Slovak Catholic Sokol, by contributing generously to churches, schools, and educational and cultural institutions, and by fostering education, brotherly love, and loyalty to one's country, as citizens of the United States and Canada, continues to act in keeping with its motto, "For God and Country"; and

WHEREAS, The first assembly of the Slovak Catholic Sokol, Assembly 11, was organized in the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois on July 8, 1906, at St. Michael the Archangel Parish, at 48th Street and Damen Avenue, and numerous other assemblies and wreaths were founded locally in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin during the following years; and

WHEREAS, The assemblies and wreaths founded in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin were brought together under the umbrella of Group Four, which was organized in the City of Chicago and the State of Illinois on April 11, 1911, at St. Michael the Archangel Parish; and

WHEREAS, The membership of the Slovak Catholic Sokol in Group Four now numbers over three thousand; and

WHEREAS, The members of Group Four will officially celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the Slovak Catholic Sokol on Sunday, September 25, 2005, with a Solemn Holy Mass at St. Simon the Apostle Church, followed by a Gala Celebration at the Hickory Hills Country Club in Hickory Hills; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we proclaim the week of September 25 to October 1, 2005 be called "Slovak Catholic Sokol Week" in the State of Illinois and urge our good citizens to join in making this celebration successful; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Slovak Catholic Sokol as an expression of our esteem.