It is an occasion to think back upon the scope of Illinois in its history, and what Illinois means for me.
Illinois was first inhabited by many indigenous groups, including the Illiniwek people, and one of their large cities was Saukenuk (#179), located where the Rock River meets the Mississippi River, located at present-day Rock Island in the Quad Cities.
We have to give a lot of credit to Nathaniel Pope (#180) and David Pope Cook (#181), both of whom were instrumental in getting Illinois admitted as the 21st State of the Union, and even having Illinois's northern border positioned far north enough to give Illinois a shoreline on Lake Michigan and the mines near Galena.
Abraham Lincoln certainly is a larger-than-life figure in Illinois history, and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (#182) covers a large area in central Illinois that includes many sites pertinent to his life.
The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor (#183) was the first such corridor designated by the US government. It stretches from Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood nearly 100 miles away to LaSalle, preserving sites of the old I&M Canal. A canal towpath still remains along parts of the corridor to provide wonderful recreational opportunities.
That canal corridor brought all the world to Illinois, as Chicago turned into a "great commercial tree" like the Illinois state song says.
But it was more than just commercial activity that brought the world's attention to Illinois.
The crowds came out in Chicago for the visit of Pope (St.) John Paul II (#184). He came to Chicago for a couple of days during his visit to the United States that lasted nearly a week, which was 40 years this past October.
During his time in Chicago, he attended a CSO concert at Holy Name Cathedral (#185), celebrated Mass at Five Holy Martyrs Parish (#186) on Chicago's Southwest Side, and celebrated Mass with nearly a million people in Grant Park (#187).
Probably one of the most notable events in the history of Illinois was when the Chicago Cubs won the 2016 World Series Championship (#188), breaking a nearly 108-year World Series drought, an event that resonates with me because I was born on the North Side of Chicago at Swedish Covenant Hospital along Foster Avenue (#189). Three miles west was the first home I ever lived in on Lockwood Avenue (#190), one of the L streets between Cicero and Central, part of a plan to make mail delivery easier by naming streets in mile-long stretches according to the same letter. A few blocks west of that home is St. Cornelius Parish (#191), where I was baptized by Father Ed Pacocha (#192), who served as pastor there for many years before his retirement.
After living on the North Side of Chicago, I moved to Oak Park, a community that has made me who I am in so many ways. And I follow as the second generation of my family that has been shaped by Oak Park, as my Mom and her siblings grew up in this community. She tells many interesting stories about her block on Highland Avenue. One notable Oak Park person who grew up a few doors away from her was Jayne Carr Thompson (#193), former First Lady of Illinois as wife of longtime governor James Thompson. She grew up on Highland Avenue a few doors away from where my Mom and her siblings grew up. My family tells the story about how Jayne came to see my Grandpa Martin one day and asked for advice about life. Later, Mrs. Thompson mentioned my Mom's family at the Illinois Governor's Mansion.
The people of Oak Park have much to offer, and one person who's stood out to me is author Harriette Gillem Robinet (#194), who wrote several historical fiction children's books featuring African-American protagonists, which I enjoyed reading in my so-called tween years.
I fostered a lifelong love of reading and learning by spending time at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library (#195), which I believe is where I first encountered one of Mrs. Robinet's books. This branch was named for Adele Maze (#196), the longtime librarian at the south side branch she advocated for. And I was privileged to work at the main Oak Park Public Library (#197) for nearly 2 1/2 years, which was a fine time at a wonderful institution.
Also on my side of town is Oak Park Conservatory (#198), constructed back in the 1920's. It's a gem of a place, providing a space to relax in the quietude of the flora, and some fauna, too, as there are a few birds there, including George the Double-Yellow Headed Parrot (#199), with whom I enjoy talking.
And then there's the place where I grew up, which has provided me such a strong sense of home in Oak Park, giving me that sense of roots in Oak Park and Illinois. One aspect of the neighborhood I enjoy is the block parties that my neighbors and I have (#200). Oak Park started block parties back in the 1970's as a way to enhance community relations, and I enjoy the opportunity they provide to build relationships with my neighbors.
As Illinois marks another birthday, I feel strongly that there is so much to celebrate because of the goodness that we find in this land and in the people of Illinois. It's been great taking trips around Illinois over the past 2 years to see places that have made Illinois what it is, and learn more about the people who made it what it is. Learning more inspires me to take my part in continuing to shape Illinois, as it has shaped me. All the learning I did in celebrating in the Bicentennial Year of 2018 has made me so glad to be part of the great story of Illinois.
That's why I was proud to display that I am part of the story of Illinois at World Youth Day 2019, waving around my Illinois flag, still fresh in Illinois Bicentennial fever, along with my US flag.
It's also why I've kept celebrating by traveling to other places in Illinois in 2019 to learn and experience more.
And that's why I'll keep embracing further opportunities to learn more about, engage with, and live the story of Illinois day by day and to furthermore contribute to the vision of Illinois for the years ahead, for I am proud to be an Illinoisan, born and bred.
God Bless Illinois, my home sweet home. And God Bless the United States of America.
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| Mom took this photo of me posing in the Wolf Road Prairie near 31st and Wolf, by the Chicago suburb of Westchester. |
Huzzah for Illinois!
Here is a list of all the blog posts with my second 200 List of Illinois Notables:
"In Celebration of 200 Years of Illinois and Beyond"
"The Heart of Illinois"
"Illinois Bicentennial Follow-up, in Vandalia"
"New Outlooks Around Me on the Pleasant Peninsula"
"So Much to See Drawn from the Land"
"Along the Mississippi"
"From Illinois to Beyond"
And this post has a round-up of my first 200 List of Illinois Notables:
"Partying 1818-Style: An Illinois Bicentennial Salute"
This post also has an item in the first list that was omitted from the aforementioned post: "Gifts 2017: Reflecting in the Spirit of the Magi"
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