06-R 240

2006 -- S 3073

Enacted 05/03/06

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

COMMEMORATING THE 41ST ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF GASPEE DAYS

Introduced By: Senators McCaffrey, and Walaska

Date Introduced: May 03, 2006

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

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

captured and destroyed the schooner HMS Gaspee, the last of the hated British vessels that had

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

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

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

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

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

Two hundred and thirty-four years later, the memory of this incendiary act still fires the hearts

and minds of the residents of historic Pawtuxet Village; and

     WHEREAS, Legislation was enacted by the general assembly to designate the second

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

to be known as Gaspee Days; and

     WHEREAS, On the afternoon of Thursday, May 4, 2006 the Gaspee Days Committee

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

Ceremony in the State House Rotunda; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby commemorates the opening of the 41st annual celebration of Gaspee Days. This Senate,

moreover, urges the patriotic citizens of the Ocean State to participate fully in the festivities

honoring this momentous event in the history of our state and the nation; and be it further

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

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

Committee.

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LC03163

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