Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed October 5, 2009, as Raoul Wallenberg Day in the State of Illinois, whose Senate had President Barack Obama as one of its most distinguished members.
The proclamation came as a result of the initiative of the IRWF, one of many that the Foundation is carrying out to preserve the memory of Raoul Wallenberg’s heroic deeds.
This specific date was chosen since on October 5, 1981, Raoul Wallenberg was declared Honorary Citizen of the USA by President Regan, becoming one of the two persons to receive such a high honor.
Governor Quinn’s Proclamation is the latest example of Illinois’s exceptional dedication to remembering and learning from the History of Holocaust. This is the second time that the State of Illinois is supporting the IRWF efforts by proclaiming Raoul Wallenberg Day.
The IRWF is grateful and proud for the continuous support of the State of Illinois, the first State to mandate the teaching of Holocaust Studies in public schools ever since 1990. On April 19, 2009, the State of Illinois will open the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Teaching Center in the town of Skokie, an initiative that will greatly help educating the future generations about the values of solidarity and civic courage, ethical cornerstones of Raoul Wallenberg and the Rescuers of Holocaust.
