HR0131 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0131 LRB099 05824 GRL 25868 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to recognize the citizens of the City of Salem on the occasion of the City's 150th anniversary on April 17, 2015; and

WHEREAS, The City of Salem was initially organized as a town on February 14, 1855 and was incorporated into a city on April 17, 1865; and

WHEREAS, The New Madrid earthquake of 1811 caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards, church bells to ring as far away as Boston, and sent Captain Samuel Young searching for a more hospitable home, which he found when he reached present-day Salem; he set up camp on what is now the courthouse square; and

WHEREAS, A severe drought hit northern and central Illinois in 1820, which contributed to wagon loads of people traveling to Illinois; as this was compared to the Biblical story of Israel going to Egypt to purchase grain, southern Illinois became known as "Egypt" and Salem became the "Gateway of Little Egypt"; and

WHEREAS, Salem was originally founded in 1823 as the county seat of Marion County; and

WHEREAS, Salem is located halfway between the Indiana and Missouri borders on what was originally the Vincennes-St. Louis Road, now U.S. Route 50; Salem evolved into a stagecoach stop on the Vincennes Trail; and

WHEREAS, Salem was home to William Jennings Bryan, who was known as "The Great Commoner" and "The Silver-Tongued Orator" and was a candidate for President of the United States; Jennings was born in Salem on March 19, 1860; he attended Salem public schools and was a member of First United Presbyterian Church; a bronze statue stands today in Bryan Memorial Park on the east side of Illinois Route 37 North; and

WHEREAS, Salem played a significant role in the G.I. Bill of Rights; it was born in Luther B. Easley Post No. 128 of the American Legion in Salem on November 4, 1943 and was drafted by Omar J. McMakin and Earl W. Merritt, both of Salem, before being taken to Washington D.C. to be signed into law; and

WHEREAS, Salem is rich in history, beauty, and solid American values; active volunteer support, the Salem Chamber of Commerce, the Historic and Patriotic Commission, and the Keep Salem Beautiful Organization play an essential role in the community; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the citizens of the City of Salem on the occasion of the City's 150th anniversary and wish them great success and happiness in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the City of Salem as a symbol of our esteem and respect.