05R-317
2005 -- H 6573
Enacted 06/07/05
H O U S E R E S
O L U T I O N
PROCLAIMING
JUNE 12, 2005 TO BE "RHODE ISLAND COLONIAL NAVY DAY"
Introduced
By: Representative Robert A. Watson
Date
Introduced: June 07, 2005
WHEREAS, The
General Assembly of the Crown Colony of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, meeting in session 230
years ago, on June 12, 1775, at the Kent County
Courthouse (now the site of the East Greenwich
Town Hall), created the first Navy in the New
World; and
WHEREAS, This
event led to the creation of the first national Navy in the United States,
forerunner of the modern United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, The two
naval vessels, authorized by the Rhode Island General Assembly
on June 12, 1775, to comprise the first Navy,
were the flagship Katy and the Washington, manned
by 80 and 30 men respectively; and
WHEREAS, Commodore
Abraham Whipple received the first naval orders ever issued to
an American Captain, and another Rhode Islander,
Esek Hopkins, was designated Commander-
in-Chief of the new fleet by the Continental
Congress in December of 1775; and
WHEREAS, The town
of East Greenwich has celebrated the creation of the first Navy in
the New World each year since the 200th
Anniversary of the event in 1975; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That
this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations hereby recognizes the
historical importance of this event in the
development of the Town of East Greenwich and
the State of Rhode Island by proclaiming
Sunday, June 12, 2005 to be "Rhode Island
Colonial Navy Day"; and be it further
RESOLVED, That
this House hereby applauds the Town of East Greenwich for the
celebratory Parade and Ceremonies, being held on
Thursday evening at 6:00 pm, June 16, 2005,
in recognition of the 230th Anniversary of the
Creation of the first Navy in the New World, and
furthermore encourages all the citizens of the
state to join in the festivities commemorating this
momentous historic event.
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LC03450
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