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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Throughout history, Polish
Highlanders have faced 
3numerous hardships;  whether it was rugged country, difficult 
4climate, nonproductive
soil, or oppressive invaders they 
5persevered, and in doing so, formed a unique culture with a 
6distinct dialect,
agropastoral farming practices, 
7architecture, dress, music, cuisine, and mindset; and
  
 
8    WHEREAS, Polish
Highlanders emigrated to Chicago as part of 
9the
great Polish emigration; their wide-ranging skills were in 
10high demand in the city's stockyards, and they joined the 
11growing communities that were centered around their local 
12parishes; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, With the outbreak of World War I, Polish 
14Highlanders heeded the call to arms and sacrificed blood for 
15freedom and independence; after the war, they returned to 
16participate in the economic boom that took place in America; 
17and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, During World War II, Polish Highlanders rebelled 
19with
the Polish nation and fought the German Nazis as partisan 
20freedom fighters; after the war, the imposition of
communism 
21upon Poland was widely rejected and many
Highlanders again 
22emigrated to America; and
  
 
 
 
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1    WHEREAS, Polish Highlanders have contributed to the 
2economy of Illinois in construction, maintenance services, 
3transportation, education, military, government, religion, and 
4medicine; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Polish Highlanders have embraced life in the 
6Chicago
area while maintaining their rich cultural dress, 
7music, and cuisine; today the community is concentrated in
the 
8southwest metro area of greater Chicagoland and is estimated to 
9be 100,000 persons strong; therefore, be it
  
 
10    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
11HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
12declare October 22, 2017 as "Polish Highlander Day" in the 
13State of Illinois.