08-R203

2008 -- H 8234

Enacted 05/01/08

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

COMMEMORATING THE 43RD ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GASPEE DAYS

Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Trillo, Ferri, Flaherty, and Gemma

Date Introduced: May 01, 2008

     WHEREAS, The burning of the HMS Gaspee was one of the boldest and most colorful

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

captured and destroyed the schooner HMS Gaspee, the last of the hated British vessels that had

harassed Rhode Island since the days of the 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 thirty-six 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 to designate 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, 2008 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 commemorates the opening of the 43rd annual celebration of

Gaspee Days. This House, moreover, urges the patriotic citizens of the Ocean State to participate

fully in the festivities honoring 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 Proclamation Chairman of the Gaspee Days

Committee.

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LC02841

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