Peoria Standard

On March 3, state Rep. Bill Hauter (R-Morton) welcomed the Bulgarian delegation – including the consul general of Bulgaria – to Illinois while also marking March as Bulgarian-American Heritage Month.

“I would also like to just welcome the Bulgarian delegation that is here and join the leader in welcoming them to our country,” Hauter said in a meeting of the Illinois General Assembly. "This is special to me because 13 years ago, my wife and I adopted our fifth child from Bulgaria. I was able to travel there multiple times and see this wonderful and beautiful country. Thank you again for being here. Thank you.”

According to the Illinois General Assembly website, the House Resolution declaring March as Bulgarian American Heritage Month was submitted by Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Belleville) in January. Last action was taken on March 9 when it was sent to the Calendar Order of Resolutions.

In the Senate, Senate Resolution SR009 “Congratulates the people of the Republic of Bulgaria as they celebrate the 145th anniversary of their liberation on March 3, 2023. It declares March 2023 Bulgarian American Heritage Month in the State of Illinois. The resolution was filed with the Secretary on Feb. 23 and assigned to the State Government on March 7 as its last action taken.

According to the BBC, March 3, 2023 was the 145th anniversary of Bulgaria’s liberation from Russia and Turkey. The Treaty of San Stefano was signed by Russia and Turkey at the end of their war in 1877 to 1878, and recognizes an “autonomous Bulgaria.”

The history of Bulgaria dates back to 1018 when it was part of the Byzantine Empire. In 1396 the Ottoman Empire conquered Bulgaria and for the next 500 years it was in the era called “Turkish Yoke.” In 1876 there was an uprising against the Ottoman rule, and then the treaty was signed. In 1908 Bulgaria declared itself an independent kingdom. In 2004 Bulgaria joined NATO and in 2007 joined the European Union.