PRINTER'S NO. 3721
No. 540 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY PIPPY, LEDERER, RYAN, EGOLF, DERMODY, STEVENSON,
COLAFELLA, ROSS, SATHER, COSTA, ARGALL, ORIE, METCALFE,
HABAY, BROWNE, CORNELL, STAIRS, RUBLEY, S. MILLER AND STURLA,
JUNE 13, 2000
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 13, 2000
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the observance of Flag Day
2 as a national holiday and honoring Collier Township,
3 Allegheny County, for its role in the history of Flag Day.
4 WHEREAS, This year our great nation commemorates the 50th
5 anniversary of Flag Day; and
6 WHEREAS, William Kerr, the individual responsible for the
7 origination of Flag Day, was a resident of Collier Township,
8 Allegheny County, from 1911 to 1928 and lived in the Rennerdale
9 section; and
10 WHEREAS, In 1888 Mr. Kerr established the American Flag Day
11 Association of Western Pennsylvania for the purpose of making
12 Flag Day a State, and subsequently national, holiday; and
13 WHEREAS, In 1889 the national organization was chartered and
14 Mr. Kerr devoted his energies to loyally serving as its
15 president for 50 years; and
16 WHEREAS, In the early 1900s Pittsburgh began memorializing
17 Flag Week from June 8 through 14; and
1 WHEREAS, In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that on
2 June 14 Flag Day should be celebrated; and
3 WHEREAS, In 1949 the Congress of the United States proclaimed
4 Flag Day as a national holiday on June 14 of each year; and
5 WHEREAS, On August 3, 1949, President Truman signed the Flag
6 Day bill with Mr. Kerr in attendance; and
7 WHEREAS, The Congress called upon officials to urge the
8 people of the nation to observe the day as the anniversary of
9 the adoption on June 14, 1777, by the Continental Congress of
10 the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth encourages all of its citizens to
13 pay tribute to and honor the flag of the United States as a
14 symbol of freedom, liberty and justice throughout the world and
15 to remember the dedication, sacrifices and hardships which have
16 been made by generations of Americans in support and defense of
17 those ideals; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the citizens
19 of this Commonwealth to proudly display the flag of the United
20 States on Flag Day and every day of the year to show support and
21 appreciation for the individual rights and freedoms we as United
22 States citizens enjoy in a democratic society; and be it further
23 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
24 vital importance of Flag Day in affirming the character and
25 conscience of our nation; and be it further
26 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage all its
27 members to actively promote the celebration of Flag Day in their
28 respective districts and the need for devotion to the United
29 States of America and the ideals for which the Stars and Stripes
30 stand; and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
2 50th anniversary of the observance of Flag Day and honor Collier
3 Township, Allegheny County, for its role in the history of Flag
4 Day.
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