PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 3109 PRINTER'S NO. 3629
No. 387 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY SCRIMENTI, DeWEESE, G. WRIGHT, J. EVANS, BEBKO-
JONES, TIGUE, COY, ARMSTRONG, MAITLAND, GEORGE, FAIRCHILD,
D. EVANS, COSTA, M. WRIGHT, JOSEPHS, LAUGHLIN, SEMMEL, JAMES,
HERMAN, STABACK, LEDERER, SOLOBAY, SAYLOR, GABIG, TURZAI,
GRUCELA, YOUNGBLOOD, TRICH, WOJNAROSKI, CLYMER, CREIGHTON,
ROSS, HUTCHINSON, L. I. COHEN, MELIO, HARHAI, CURRY, HERSHEY,
HENNESSEY, DALEY, SHANER, B. SMITH, HORSEY, SCHULER, GEIST,
E. Z. TAYLOR, DeLUCA, LESCOVITZ, THOMAS, S. MILLER, KELLER,
PALLONE, M. COHEN AND CIVERA, JANUARY 2, 2002
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, APRIL 9, 2002
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the
2 United States Postal Service to consider and recommend to the
3 United States Postal Service Board of Governors the issuance
4 of a commemorative stamp honoring the United States Brig
5 Niagara.
6 WHEREAS, The Battle of Lake Erie was a fierce naval campaign
7 waged to prevent the United States from losing its northwest
8 territories; and
9 WHEREAS, The battle resulted in a restoration of public
10 morale and confirmation that America had found independence from
11 Great Britain at the height of the War of 1812; and
12 WHEREAS, The United States Brig Niagara was the relief
13 flagship utilized by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry during this
14 significant battle; and
15 WHEREAS, Upon defeating the British with the Niagara fleet,
1 Commodore Perry relayed the famous victory message, "We have met
2 the enemy and they are ours"; and
3 WHEREAS, After the war, the Niagara served as a station ship
4 in Erie until 1820, when she was scuttled in Presque Isle Bay;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, To celebrate the centennial of the impressive battle
7 in 1913, Erie citizens raised the vessel and towed it around the
8 Great Lakes ports; and
9 WHEREAS, In 1931 the Commonwealth began an extensive
10 restoration effort on the ship only to later see the ship again
11 become decayed; and
12 WHEREAS, By the early 1980s the Historic Watercraft Society
13 began efforts to design and build a reconstruction of the
14 Niagara; and
15 WHEREAS, The replica of Commodore Perry's flagship was
16 completed in 1990, enabling it to be an active sailing ship
17 traveling to ports along the Atlantic seaboard and providing
18 education and historic interpretation; and
19 WHEREAS, The Flagship Niagara League and the Pennsylvania
20 Historical and Museum Commission enthusiastically support the
21 commemoration of the United States Brig Niagara; therefore be it
22 RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
23 memorialize the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of the United
24 States Postal Service Board of Governors to issue a stamp
25 commemorating the United States Brig Niagara; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That copies A COPY of this resolution be <--
27 transmitted to the presiding officers of each house of Congress <--
28 CITIZENS' STAMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE and to each member of <--
29 Congress from Pennsylvania.
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