2017 -- H 5410

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LC001250

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017, TO BE "HISTORIC CEMETERY

RESTORATION/AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Giarrusso, Nardolillo, Shekarchi, Winfield, and
McNamara

     Date Introduced: February 07, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission

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considers our states cemeteries to be "among Rhode Island's most unique and most overlooked

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historic resources"; and

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     WHEREAS, In 1950, a state cemetery commission was established in order to locate and

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register historical cemeteries throughout the state. By 1958, the commission had found 1,704

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cemeteries; and

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     WHEREAS, By 1990, the state cemetery commission, under the direction of John

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Sterling, and in conjunction with a group comprised of forty volunteers, "set out to record and

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computerize all of the gravestones in historical cemeteries around the state." As of today, they

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have found, registered, and recorded the gravestones in 3,143 cemeteries across the state; and

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     WHEREAS, Rhode Island's historical cemeteries are "open air museums" conveying

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information not only on the births and deaths of our citizens but also providing a record of our

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state's geographical, religious and cultural past; and

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     WHEREAS, As historical sites and the eternal resting places of our ancestors and the

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original settlers in our state, historic cemeteries deserve our utmost respect, restoration, and

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maintenance; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby thanks and recognizes the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery

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Commission on their dedicated efforts to restore and rehabilitate historic cemeteries in our state;

 

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and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this House hereby proclaims Saturday, April 15, 2017, to be "Historic

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Cemetery Restoration/Awareness Day" and urges the citizens of the state to observe this day with

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appropriate ceremonies and activities that raise awareness for the cultural, architectural, and

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archaeological importance, and the need to preserve and restore the historic cemeteries in our

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state; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Alan Clarke, East Greenwich Historic

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Cemetery Advisory Commission.

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LC001250

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