HR 953

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Full Text of HR0953
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	HR0953 - 104th General Assembly
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		HR0953		LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1HOUSE RESOLUTION
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives wish to congratulate the citizens of Rockford
4and Ferentino, Italy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary
5of their sister city partnership; and
6    WHEREAS, Rockford has a substantial and vibrant Italian
7American population that celebrates its ancestral heritage,
8including many families and individuals who trace their
9ancestral roots to Ferentino, an ancient, pre-Roman era hill
10town southeast of Rome; these families and their descendants
11have grown to become an integral and cherished part of the
12Rockford community, enriching its cultural, civic, and social
13fabric for generations; and
14    WHEREAS, Since the late 1800s, thousands of immigrants
15made the journey from Ferentino to Rockford, building homes,
16businesses, churches, and institutions that have shaped the
17identity of the city; their descendants, now numbering in the
18thousands, remain a vibrant and active part of the Rockford
19community, preserving Italian traditions while contributing to
20the greater civic and cultural life of the region; and
21    WHEREAS, Immigrants to Rockford from Ferentino founded the
22Society of Saint Ambrogio Martyr Mutual Benefit Society (Saint
		HR0953	- 2 -	LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1Ambrogio Society) in 1918, which is still in active operation
2today, standing as a testament to the enduring bonds between
3the two communities and the dedication of Ferentino-descended
4families to preserving their shared heritage; and
5    WHEREAS, Efforts to establish an Italian sister city to
6Rockford began in 2005 through family ties in both Rockford
7and Ferentino, leading to robust community efforts in both
8cities to formalize the lasting connections that have linked
9the people of Rockford and Ferentino for over a century; and
10    WHEREAS, The Italian Sister City Committee was formed in
11Rockford in 2005 to facilitate the ongoing communication
12between citizens and officials from Rockford and Ferentino to
13promote and support a sister city agreement between the two
14cities; and
15    WHEREAS, A delegation of nine public officials from the
16Ferentino City Council and the Pro Loco Association visited
17Rockford for a week in May 2006, where they took part in
18several official meetings and activities that culminated in
19the signing of a sister city agreement by Mayor Larry
20Morrissey of Rockford and Mayor Piergianni Fiorletta of
21Ferentino at Rockford City Hall on May 15, 2006; and
22    WHEREAS, A volunteer-based entity, the Rockford Italian
		HR0953	- 3 -	LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1Sister Cities Association (RISCA), has organized and sponsored
2activities over the past two decades in support of this
3partnership, which have included international visitor
4exchanges, student pen pal programs, peace pole installations,
5gift exchanges, creation of the Italian Sister City garden and
6a plaque at Rockford's Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, participation
7in the Rockford Sister Cities Advisory Commission, and
8cultural displays at the Rockford and Ferentino city halls and
9at Rockford's Festa Italiana, Midway Village Museum, Discovery
10Center Museum, Public Library, and Ethnic Heritage Museum; and
11    WHEREAS, The 20th anniversary of this historic partnership
12is a milestone that reflects 20 years of friendship, cultural
13exchange, and mutual respect between two communities bound by
14shared history, shared values, and the enduring spirit of
15their people, both in Italy and in Illinois; and
16    WHEREAS, The 20th anniversary of this historic event will
17be recognized in Rockford and in Ferentino and be celebrated
18by RISCA's hosting of commemorative activities; therefore, be
19it
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22we congratulate the citizens of Rockford and Ferentino, Italy
23on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their sister city
		HR0953	- 4 -	LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1partnership in recognition of the thousands of
2Ferentino-descended individuals who have made and continue to
3make Rockford a richer, stronger, and more vibrant community;
4and be it further
5    RESOLVED, That we commend the Saint Ambrogio Society,
6Rockford's other Italian social clubs, and all of the many
7organizations, businesses, and countless individuals and
8elected officials, here and abroad, that have worked to
9sustain the steadfast bonds between Rockford and Ferentino for
10over a century; and be it further
11    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12presented to the cities of Rockford and Ferentino and
13representatives of the Rockford Italian Sister Cities Alliance
14(RISCA) as an expression of our esteem and respect.