2013 -- H 6080

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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

COMMEMORATING THE 48TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GASPEE DAYS

     

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, Bennett, Cimini, Trillo, and Shekarchi

     Date Introduced: May 02, 2013

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

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

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captured and destroyed the schooner H.M.S. Gaspee, the last of the hated British vessels that had

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harassed Rhode Island since the days of the Stamp Act. This act of defiance off Namquid Point

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was the supreme act of protest against the tyranny of the British Crown, and provided a strong

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impetus to the movement of the American colonies toward independence; and

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

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

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Today, more than two hundred and forty years later, the memory of this incendiary act still fires

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the hearts and minds of the residents of historic Pawtuxet Village; and

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     WHEREAS, Legislation was enacted by the General Assembly to designate the second

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

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to be known as Gaspee Days; and

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     WHEREAS, On the afternoon of Thursday, May 2, 2013, the Gaspee Days Committee

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will be launching this year's commemoration of the event with its annual Proclamation Ceremony

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in the State Room; now, therefore be it

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

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Providence Plantations hereby commemorates the opening of the 48th annual celebration of

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

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fully in the festivities honoring this momentous event in the history of our state and the nation;

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and be it further

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

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Proclamation Chairman of the Gaspee Days

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Committee.

     

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LC00075

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H6080