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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to recognize milestone events in 
4the lives of the citizens of the State of Illinois; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, It has come to our attention that the St. Ambrogio 
6Mutual Benefit Society of Rockford, Illinois is celebrating its 
7100th anniversary this year; this social organization began at 
8a club at 802 Montague Street in Rockford on May 1, 1918; of 
9the many Italian social clubs that existed years ago in South 
10Rockford, the St. Ambrogio Club is the last remaining; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Immigrants from Ferentino, Italy, an ancient hill 
12town founded in 4 B.C. southeast of Rome, organized the St. 
13Ambrogio Society for fellowship and assimilation assistance in 
14a new land that was often unwelcoming to them; the 
15"Americanization Hall," previously housed at St. Anthony of 
16Padua Church, was moved to the front of the St. Ambrogio 
17Society Club in the 1920s; the hall functioned as a school for 
18the early Italian immigrants of Rockford with instruction on 
19the English language and American culture and customs; 
20accordingly, the club and hall are important parts of 
21Rockford's history and South Rockford landmarks; and
  
 
22    WHEREAS, The St. Ambrogio Club took its name in honor of 
 
 
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1the revered and martyred saint of Ferentino, Italy; so 
2important is St. Ambrogio to Ferentino's history that he is 
3codified in its municipal laws and two official annual city 
4holiday feasts with elaborate processions and fanfare 
5commemorate him; the St. Ambrogio Club of Rockford likewise 
6honors him with its annual festivities in August; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, In recognition of the long-standing and enduring 
8ties that have existed between the people of Ferentino, Italy 
9and Rockford, Illinois, the two cities officially joined 
10together as Sister Cities on May 15, 2006; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, Today, The St. Ambrogio Society is a vibrant 
12social club, with weekly fish fries, lunches, special events, 
13meetings, and hundreds of bocce players in summer leagues; with 
14over 300 members of all ages and an active ladies' auxiliary, 
15this club is vital to the revitalization of South Rockford; the 
16club welcomes all people and has been a good neighbor and 
17stabilizing influence on the Montague Street neighborhood for 
18100 years; the club's banquet hall is rented by people from all 
19over the greater Rockford area for their special events and 
20continues to draw people from throughout the State for its 
21assorted events and festivities; therefore, be it
  
 
22    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE 
23HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
 
 
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1congratulate the St. Ambrogio Society on the occasion of its 
2100th anniversary; and be it further
  
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
4presented to the St. Ambrogio Society as an expression of our 
5esteem and respect.