2024 -- H 8091

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LC005746

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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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

     Referred To: House read and passed

     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.

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