R 183

2019 -- H 5937 Enacted 04/02/2019

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

PROCLAIMING SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019, TO BE "HISTORIC CEMETERY RESTORATION/AWARENESS DAY" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Cortvriend, Cassar, Shekarchi, and Kennedy

Date Introduced: April 02, 2019

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 13, 2019, 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 Lea Anthony Hitchen, East Greenwich Historic

Cemetery Advisory Commission.

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LC002246

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