CONGRATS-ROCKFORD/FERENTINO

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0953

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HR0953 - 104th General Assembly

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HR0953
LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

2

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3
Representatives wish to congratulate the citizens of Rockford
4
and Ferentino, Italy on the occasion of the 20th anniversary
5
of their sister city partnership; and

6

WHEREAS, Rockford has a substantial and vibrant Italian
7
American population that celebrates its ancestral heritage,
8
including many families and individuals who trace their
9
ancestral roots to Ferentino, an ancient, pre-Roman era hill
10
town southeast of Rome; these families and their descendants
11
have grown to become an integral and cherished part of the
12
Rockford community, enriching its cultural, civic, and social
13
fabric for generations; and

14

WHEREAS, Since the late 1800s, thousands of immigrants
15
made the journey from Ferentino to Rockford, building homes,
16
businesses, churches, and institutions that have shaped the
17
identity of the city; their descendants, now numbering in the
18
thousands, remain a vibrant and active part of the Rockford
19
community, preserving Italian traditions while contributing to
20
the greater civic and cultural life of the region; and

21

WHEREAS, Immigrants to Rockford from Ferentino founded the
22
Society of Saint Ambrogio Martyr Mutual Benefit Society (Saint

HR0953
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LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1
Ambrogio Society) in 1918, which is still in active operation
2
today, standing as a testament to the enduring bonds between
3
the two communities and the dedication of Ferentino-descended
4
families to preserving their shared heritage; and

5

WHEREAS, Efforts to establish an Italian sister city to
6
Rockford began in 2005 through family ties in both Rockford
7
and Ferentino, leading to robust community efforts in both
8
cities to formalize the lasting connections that have linked
9
the people of Rockford and Ferentino for over a century; and

10

WHEREAS, The Italian Sister City Committee was formed in
11
Rockford in 2005 to facilitate the ongoing communication
12
between citizens and officials from Rockford and Ferentino to
13
promote and support a sister city agreement between the two
14
cities; and

15

WHEREAS, A delegation of nine public officials from the
16
Ferentino City Council and the Pro Loco Association visited
17
Rockford for a week in May 2006, where they took part in
18
several official meetings and activities that culminated in
19
the signing of a sister city agreement by Mayor Larry
20
Morrissey of Rockford and Mayor Piergianni Fiorletta of
21
Ferentino at Rockford City Hall on May 15, 2006; and

22

WHEREAS, A volunteer-based entity, the Rockford Italian

HR0953
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LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1
Sister Cities Association (RISCA), has organized and sponsored
2
activities over the past two decades in support of this
3
partnership, which have included international visitor
4
exchanges, student pen pal programs, peace pole installations,
5
gift exchanges, creation of the Italian Sister City garden and
6
a plaque at Rockford's Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza, participation
7
in the Rockford Sister Cities Advisory Commission, and
8
cultural displays at the Rockford and Ferentino city halls and
9
at Rockford's Festa Italiana, Midway Village Museum, Discovery
10
Center Museum, Public Library, and Ethnic Heritage Museum; and

11

WHEREAS, The 20th anniversary of this historic partnership
12
is a milestone that reflects 20 years of friendship, cultural
13
exchange, and mutual respect between two communities bound by
14
shared history, shared values, and the enduring spirit of
15
their people, both in Italy and in Illinois; and

16

WHEREAS, The 20th anniversary of this historic event will
17
be recognized in Rockford and in Ferentino and be celebrated
18
by RISCA's hosting of commemorative activities; therefore, be
19
it

20

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
22
we congratulate the citizens of Rockford and Ferentino, Italy
23
on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of their sister city

HR0953
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LRB104 22126 LAW 38315 r
1
partnership in recognition of the thousands of
2
Ferentino-descended individuals who have made and continue to
3
make Rockford a richer, stronger, and more vibrant community;
4
and be it further

5

RESOLVED, That we commend the Saint Ambrogio Society,
6
Rockford's other Italian social clubs, and all of the many
7
organizations, businesses, and countless individuals and
8
elected officials, here and abroad, that have worked to
9
sustain the steadfast bonds between Rockford and Ferentino for
10
over a century; and be it further

11

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
12
presented to the cities of Rockford and Ferentino and
13
representatives of the Rockford Italian Sister Cities Alliance
14
(RISCA) as an expression of our esteem and respect.

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