| R 164 |
| 2024 -- H 8091 Enacted 03/21/2024 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CELEBRATING LA FRANCOPHONIE FLAG RAISING CEREMONY AT THE RHODE ISLAND STATE HOUSE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2024 |
Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, J. Brien, Casey, Serpa, Costantino, Kennedy, and Ajello |
| Date Introduced: March 21, 2024 |
| WHEREAS, The “Levee de Drapeau”, Flag Raising ceremony provides a day to |
| celebrate “La Francophonie”, the French-Speaking World and is dedicated to French culture and |
| the French language which unifies people on five continents; and |
| WHEREAS, French is the second-most widely spoken mother tongue in the European |
| Union, and is the primary or secondary language for approximately 300 million people across the |
| world; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to more than 124,000 residents of French descent, |
| 9,500 of whom are proud and skilled in the French language, and this multitude of linguistic |
| diversity in our state has served to strengthen us culturally, economically, and intellectually; and |
| WHEREAS, Beginning in 1901, the Alliance Française of Providence, a French cultural |
| center that serves the Providence community, has been helping to “promote the French and |
| Francophone culture and language” and “establish and nurture ties of friendship with our |
| American friends”; and |
| WHEREAS, The Alliance has more than 2,500 friends and members in Rhode Island and |
| offers French classes, monthly luncheons, opportunities to enjoy French conversation, art |
| appreciation events, and a variety of cultural celebrations; and |
| WHEREAS, French culture has played a significant role with contributions in cinema, |
| fashion, cuisine, literature, technology, the social sciences and mathematics and is a valued |
| component to Rhode Island’s vibrancy, economy, and diversity; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| welcomes and joins the Consul of France, members of the Alliance Française de Providence and |
| all Rhode Islanders in commemorating La Francophonie Flag Raising Ceremony and celebrating |
| the French language and culture in Rhode Island; 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 the Alliance Française de Providence. |
| ======== |
| LC005746 |
| ======== |