HR0021 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0021 LRB096 04193 GRL 14237 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate the members of the Will County Historical Society and the Give Something Back Foundation on the occasion of the dedication of the Lincoln Landing, the singular park located in historic downtown Lockport; and

WHEREAS, Created by a donation from Bob and Jill Carr, former residents of Lockport, the Give Something Back Foundation is a privately-funded civic organization committed to helping financially disadvantaged children, who are committed to academic excellence, to complete a college degree; and

WHEREAS, The Will County Historical Society is the storyteller of the history of Will County, having planned and executed many public activities and events to showcase the rich history of the county and its residents; and

WHEREAS, The connection of Abraham Lincoln to the City of Lockport is considerable; citing the need for improved transportation in northeastern Illinois, a young man named Abraham Lincoln and eight other legislators, dubbed "The Long Nine", proposed a canal that would connect Lake Michigan and the Illinois River; the City of Lockport would become the headquarters of the new canal, which would be named the Illinois & Michigan Canal; the I & M Canal and the City of Lockport would not be forgotten by Lincoln, who would go on to proclaim the canal's completion and opening to the House of Representatives in 1848 and sign legislation as President to use the I & M Canal to transport cannon and armaments for the Union Army to use in the Battle of Vicksburg during the Civil War; following his assassination in 1865, his body was carried through Lockport on the way to Springfield on the city's railroad tracks; and

WHEREAS, The planning and construction of Lincoln Landing was funded by the Give Something Back Foundation, with the construction site located on land owned by the Will County Historical Society; the park features a one of a kind statue of Abraham Lincoln and educational bronze medallions that contain information regarding the national implications of Lincoln, Lockport, and the Illinois & Michigan Canal; in addition, a curriculum is being created in conjunction with nine school districts in the area and their teachers for use directly in the classroom, the only project of its kind in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Lincoln Landing has recently been endorsed by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission in Washington, D.C., a testament to the park's focus on Lincoln and his contributions to our nation; and

WHEREAS, Thanks to the combined efforts of the Will County Historical Society and the Give Something Back Foundation, Lincoln Landing will serve as a source of education and enlightenment for many generations of citizens who wish to learn about the life and legacy of our 16th president; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the members of the Will County Historical Society and the Give Something Back Foundation on the occasion of the dedication of Lincoln Landing and wish them continued success with their future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Will County Historical Society and the Give Something Back Foundation as a symbol of our esteem and respect.