2017 -- H 5410

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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

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

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

historic resources"; and

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

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

cemeteries; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

state's geographical, religious and cultural past; and

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

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

maintenance; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby thanks and recognizes the Rhode Island Historical Cemetery

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

and be it further

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

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

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

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

state; and be it further

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

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

Cemetery Advisory Commission.

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