Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker proclaimed March 3, 2024 as a day dedicated to celebrating the Liberation of Bulgaria, reported by BGNES. The document marks 20 years since Bulgaria’s accession to NATO; 121 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States; 146 years since the re-establishment of Bulgaria. The document mentions that the oldest Bulgarian church in Illinois, The Holy Trinity Church, was built in 1910 by Bulgarian refugees from the region of Macedonia. It also acknowledges the contribution of the Saint Sophia Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the 13 Bulgarian Sunday Schools for the preservation of Bulgarian language, religion and culture.

''With Governor Pritzker's proclamation and the resolutions of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives in 2023, the Bulgarian community in Illinois has received unprecedented recognition in the modern history of Bulgarian emigration. Bulgarians should be proud of what has been achieved but also responsible for preserving our culture, language and identity for the future generations", said Bulgaria’s Consul General in Chicago Svetoslav Stankov.