2014 – H 8137
Enacted 05/01/14
H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
COMMEMORATING THE 49TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GASPEE DAYS
Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Trillo, Shekarchi, Ferri, and Bennett
Date Introduced: May 01, 2014
WHEREAS, The burning of the H.M.S. 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 H.M.S. 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. Today, more than two hundred and forty 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, 2014, the Gaspee Days Committee will be launching this year's commemoration of the event with its annual Proclamation Ceremony in the State Room; 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 49th 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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LC003010
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