Bill Text: IL HR0021 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates the members of the Will County Historical Society and the Give Something Back Foundation on the occasion of the dedication of Lincoln Landing, the singular park located in historic downtown Lockport.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2009-02-04 - Resolution Adopted [HR0021 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0021-Introduced.html

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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

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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

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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.