R 262

2016 -- S 3039 Enacted 05/26/2016

S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING THE 226TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF "HOPE DAY: BIRTH OF OUR NATION"

Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Felag, Metts, Lynch Prata, and Lombardi

Date Introduced: May 26, 2016

WHEREAS, Two hundred and twenty-six years ago, on May 29, 1790, in the City of

Newport, the Rhode Island Constitutional Convention was convened for the purpose of resolving

the adoption of the proposed Constitution that would create the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, Fourteen years and twenty-five days had passed since the revolutionary

English Colony of Rhode Island had declared itself separate and free from any allegiance to Great

Britain on May 4th of 1776, and two years, eight months, and twelve days had elapsed since the

Philadelphia Constitutional Convention had adopted the proposed Constitution for the United

States of America on September 17th of 1787; and

WHEREAS, On a vote of thirty-four to thirty-two, Rhode Island's Constitutional

Delegation adopted the proposed Constitution of the United States and thus became the thirteenth

and the last of the original states to ratify and complete the Union; and

WHEREAS, The great bell of the Second Baptist Church on Farewell Street rang

joyously accompanied by an exuberant carillon of all Newport's churches, and the dancing in the

streets of the City of Providence combined with great celebrations across the state to herald in the

newborn State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, the Hope State, and to mark the

"Birth of Our Nation"; and

WHEREAS, By Rhode Island's revolutionary legislative action, resonating precisely two

months later with the collective action of the Declaration of Independence, the United States of

America was formally conceived in Liberty and the hope of America's Founding Fathers was

fulfilled; and

WHEREAS, Rhode Island's prominent stature in these historic events has surely rendered

our state eminently deserving of the slogan, "The Birthplace of Our Nation"; now, therefore be it

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

hereby commemorates the 226th Anniversary Celebration Of "Hope Day: Birth Of Our Nation";

and be it further

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

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the

State of Rhode Island, and G. Brian Sullivan, Ph.D., Executive Director, Newportant Foundation.

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LC005684

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