Kankakee Times

State Representative Jackie Haas celebrated Bastille Day with a community event where she stated she "presented House Joint Resolution 58, which declares June 15th as Illinois History Day, to constituent Ken Ponton." She made this statement in a July 15 Facebook post.

"I had the chance to attend the Bastille Day brunch where I presented House Joint Resolution 58, which declares June 15th as Illinois History Day, to constituent Ken Ponton," said Haas, according to Facebook. "Ken brought the idea for this resolution to my office and we worked together to make this happen. I always appreciate constituent ideas for legislation that I can bring to Springfield on their behalf."

Haas was the chief sponsor of House Joint Resolution 58, which she filed with the clerk on February 20, 2024. According to the Illinois General Assembly page focused on the resolution, it moved to the Senate on May 14 and was adopted by both houses on May 25, 2024. The bill declares June 15, 2024, as History Day in the State of Illinois. It also recognizes volunteers at historical societies across the state for their efforts to preserve and spread history.

Screenshot of Rep. Jackie Haas' July 15 Facebook post | Rep. Jackie Haas' Facebook page

Bastille Day is celebrated on July 14 because it marks the anniversary of the July 14, 1789 storming of the military fortress and prison known as the Bastille in France. According to History.com, this uprising was the beginning of the French Revolution and served as a symbol of "the callous tyranny of the French monarchy, especially King Louis XVI and his queen, Marie Antoinette." A mob of angry revolutionists surrounded the fortress; some were invited inside by Bernard-René de Launay, who was then governor of the Bastille. During negotiations, a group climbed an outer wall and lowered a drawbridge, allowing crowds to enter and lower a second drawbridge. De Launay was marched to city hall and murdered by the crowd.

In France, troops have marched to commemorate Bastille Day since Bastille Day 1880, parading along the Champs-Élysées before government and world leaders.

Rep. Jackie Haas was elected to represent Illinois’ 79th House District in December 2020. According to her biography from the Illinois General Assembly, she is CEO of the Helen Wheeler Center for Community Health; she previously worked as a social worker at Riverside Medical Center. Haas holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Valparaiso University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Illinois-Chicago.