Skopje, 22 September 2023 (MIA) - Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed September 2023 as Macedonian-American Heritage Month. 

This is the latest in a series of proclamations celebrating the Macedonian culture in the United States this month, including that from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Voice of America (VOA) reports. 

"Illinois has been home to many Macedonian-Americans, who have contributed culturally, economically and philanthropically," reads the proclamation. 

It adds that numerous hard-working Macedonian immigrants have helped maintain the American entrepreneurial spirit and are part of Chicago's history and culture.

The Governor also mentions successful Macedonian American businesspeople in Chicago, including businessman Mike Zafirovski, former CEO of "Motorola" and "Nortel", Dino Delevski, founder and coach of the soccer club "Chicago Inferno", and many others.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams also proclaimed last Saturday, September 16, as Macedonian-American Heritage Day, and the Macedonian flag was raised on Wall Street to celebrate 32 years of independence, said Voice of America in Macedonian.

In July 2023, Republican Senator Mike Braun submitted a resolution to the United States Senate on designating September 2023 as “Macedonian American Heritage Month”, celebrating the Macedonian language, history, and culture.

The resolution, introduced by Braun, the only senator who is a member of the Friends of Macedonia and Macedonian Americans Committee in the U.S. Congress, must first be approved by the Judiciary Committee before the Senate can vote on it.

Voice of America’s Macedonian Service contacted Senator Braun's office about the current status of this resolution, but there is still no response.

The resolutions and proclamations are at the request of the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD). 

Photo: Voice of America in Macedonian