Sunday, December 3, 2017, will mark Illinois’ 199th birthday and begin a celebration of Illinois becoming the 21st state in the union on December 3, 1818. The yearlong celebration to be held between December 3, 2017, and December 3, 2018, will be our state’s 200th birthday. The Illinois Bicentennial celebration will honor the many ways that Illinois has influenced American history, achievement, culture, innovation, and much more.
“Let’s pay tribute to the people, places and things that are being born, built and grown in Illinois every day,” affirms Sue Breese, DeKalb County Historian. The celebration is an once-in-a-lifetime invitation to fall in love with Illinois all over again.
“We are so excited as a county to participate in a year of amazing events to celebrate the great state of Illinois in our Bicentennial year” DeKalb County Board Chairman Mark Pietrowski said “2018 will also represent the launch of our DeKalb County Hall of Fame and I am excited for all of the things our Joiner History Room Director and Illinois Bicentennial Liaison, Sue Breese is planning.” Let’s rally our communities and encourage citizens, organizations, businesses, congregations, and cultural and educational institutions to participate in a yearlong celebration.
Join them on Monday, December 4th, at 11:45 a.m., at the DeKalb County Courthouse, for an Illinois Bicentennial flag raising to coincide with ceremonies throughout the state, and kick off a year of celebration! Free mini state of Illinois flags to the first 50 people that attend.
Members of the DeKalb community are invited to join DeKalb City officials as they also celebrate the beginning of the Illinois Bicentennial. On Monday, December 4, 2017, at 12:00 pm, the City will host a Bicentennial Flag Raising Ceremony along with municipalities across the state. The ceremony will take place in front of DeKalb City Hall located at 200 South Fourth Street.
The City encourages citizens to take part in this event and celebrate throughout the year
by visiting Illinois200.com and using the hashtag #IllinoisProud. Those wishing to attend
the ceremony are asked to arrive at City Hall by 11:45 am on December 4th. For more
information, please contact Management Analyst Raymond Munch at 815-748-2392.
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