Will County Raises Bicentennial Flag in Celebration of Illinois’ 200th "Birthday"

Will County Executive Larry Walsh, along with several other officials, celebrated the 200th “birthday” of Illinois by raising the state’s bicentennial flag today at the Will County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street in Joliet. A yearlong celebration will commemorate this milestone anniversary of Illinois’ statehood.

“We are proud in Will County to display this beautiful flag and acknowledge our state’s 200th birthday,” Walsh said. “Illinois is the 21st state in the union and I am proud of our progress. Despite the current challenges we face, it is important to note the proud history of progress over many past challenges. The future is still bright and our citizens are what makes Illinois great.”

While the official anniversary of Illinois’ statehood is December 3, 1818, today marked the beginning of a yearlong campaign called “Born, Built & Grown.” This campaign will celebrate all the amazing people places and things that make Illinois so “strong, kind, and beautiful.”

Statewide celebrations running during the campaign will include events such as a “Presidents Day Happy Illinois Bicentennial Birthday Bash” and a “Illinois Bicentennial Community Rock Concert.” A full list of events can be found at illinois200.com, the official website for the bicentennial celebrations.

As a lifelong resident of Will County, I have personally witnessed many changes over the years,” Walsh said. “I am very proud of the history of Will County and the state of Illinois and look forward to our continued success. We will proudly display this Bicentennial flag over the county building in 2018.”