R 175

2003 -- H 6397

Enacted 05/01/03

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

DECLARING MAY 1, 2003 AS THE OPENING OF THE 38TH

ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GASPEE DAYS

Introduced By: Representatives Naughton, McNamara, Sherlock, Watson, and Trillo

Date Introduced: May 01, 2003

     WHEREAS, The burning of the H.M.S. Gaspee was one of the oldest and most colorful

incidents in the War for American Independence. On the night of June 9, 1772, Rhode Islanders

captured and destroyed the last of the British vessels that had harassed Rhode Island since the

days of the hated Stamp Act. This act of defiance off Namquid Point was the supreme act of

protest against the tyranny of the British Crown, and provided a strong impetus to the movement

of the American colonies toward independence; and

     WHEREAS, The burning of the Gaspee led to the formation of the Committee of

Correspondence, the Continental Congress and, eventually, to the Declaration of Independence.

Two hundred and twenty-nine years later, the memory of this incendiary act still fires the hearts

and minds of the residents of historic Pawtuxet Village; and

     WHEREAS, Legislation was enacted by the General Assembly which designated the

second Saturday and the following Sunday in the month of June each year as days of special

observance to be known as Gaspee Days; and

     WHEREAS, On the afternoon of Thursday, May 1, 2003, the Gaspee Days Committee

will be launching this year’s commemoration of the event with their annual Proclamation

Ceremony in the State House rotunda; now, therefore be it

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

Providence Plantations hereby declares May 1, 2003 to be the opening of the 38th annual

celebration of Gaspee Days. This House of Representatives urges the patriotic citizens of the

Ocean State to fully participate in the commemoration of this momentous event in the history of

our state and the nation; and be it further

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

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Gaspee Days Committee.

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LC03162

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