Bill Text: IL HJR0034 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Designates May 2, 2015 through May 4, 2015 as days of remembrance in honor of the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's death and funeral, and requests the Governor to order the United States flag and the flag of the State of Illinois to be flown at half-staff on those days.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-04-30 - Adopted Both Houses [HJR0034 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HJR0034-Introduced.html

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Honorable Abraham Lincoln was, prior to his
election, a resident of Illinois; upon his election as
President of the United States, he became Commander-in-Chief of
the nation's armed forces, in accordance with Section 2 of
Article II of the Constitution of the United States; and
WHEREAS, During the entire period of President Lincoln's
terms in office, the United States was engaged in the Civil
War; and
WHEREAS, Although President Lincoln, as
Commander-in-Chief, was a civilian, he was closely connected
with the armed forces of the United States during this period,
ceaselessly visiting operating units of the armed forces as
well as the field hospitals and other facilities set aside for
the care and treatment of sick and wounded soldiers and
sailors; and
WHEREAS, Five days after the surrender of General Robert E.
Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, then being the principal
force bearing arms in support of the Confederate States of
America, President Lincoln was fatally wounded on April 14,
1865 by an enraged and resentful partisan of the insurgency;
and

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WHEREAS, Upon President Lincoln's death on the morning of
April 15, 1865, he was identified as a victim of the Civil War
and is considered one of the final casualties of the tragic
conflict; and
WHEREAS, President Lincoln's home state of Illinois laid
claim, with the support of his widow Mary Todd Lincoln, to his
mortal remains; over a 20-day period, the remains of the
President were returned to Illinois in a scene of intense
gratitude for his service to the nation; on May 4, 1865, the
remains of the President, after being transported through the
streets of Springfield, were laid to rest in Oak Ridge
Cemetery, close to the site where they remain today; and
WHEREAS, The 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition has taken on
the responsibility of organizing a historically accurate
reenactment of President Lincoln's funeral procession through
Springfield; in so doing, the Coalition and its Board of
Directors, participants, and volunteers have set forth as part
of their mission statement the goals of educating reenactment
participants, coordinating the reenactment, and promoting the
solemn and dignified observance of the occasion; and
WHEREAS, The dates designated for the funeral reenactment
are May 2 and May 3, 2015; and

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WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the State of Illinois
pay honor and respect to President Lincoln by observing the
sesquicentennial of his death and funeral; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the days of May 2,
2015, May 3, 2015, and May 4, 2015 as days of remembrance in
honor of the 150th anniversary of the death and funeral of
President Abraham Lincoln; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we request the Governor to order the United
States national flag and the State flag of Illinois to be flown
at half-staff on the days of May 2, 2015, May 3, 2015, and May
4, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we encourage all residents of the State to
display the United States national flag and the State flag of
Illinois at half-staff during these days of remembrance; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to the Governor and to Katie Spindell, Chairman of
the 2015 Lincoln Funeral Coalition.