| R 195 |
| 2023 -- H 6194 Enacted 03/23/2023 |
| 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 23, 2023 |
Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, J. Brien, Casey, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Bennett, Ajello, Shallcross Smith, and Cortvriend |
| Date Introduced: March 23, 2023 |
| 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 more than 220 million people across the |
| world; and |
| WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to more than 9,000 residents 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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| LC002684 |
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