PRINTER'S NO. 832
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
137
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, READSHAW, D. COSTA, KULIK, CALTAGIRONE,
BAKER, BOBACK, DiGIROLAMO, HENNESSEY, MURT, WARD, FREEMAN,
DRISCOLL, GREINER, LONGIETTI, KINSEY, MILLARD, CONKLIN,
WATSON, RYAN, JAMES, SCHLOSSBERG, DONATUCCI, SCHLEGEL CULVER,
NEILSON, GABLER, ROEBUCK, SCHWEYER, BIZZARRO, GROVE, THOMAS,
PASHINSKI AND GILLEN, MARCH 9, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 9, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating March 14, 2017, as "Charter Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On March 4, 1681, King Charles II of England granted
William Penn a charter for land in the New World to make up for
a large debt that the king owed to Penn's father; and
WHEREAS, William Penn had initially decided to name the land
"Sylvania," which in Latin means "woods," to which King Charles
II added the prefix "Penn" in honor of William Penn's father,
Admiral Sir William Penn; and
WHEREAS, Admiral Penn had served England as a rear admiral
and vice admiral of Ireland, a vice admiral of England, a
general in the First Anglo-Dutch War and great captain commander
under the Duke of York; and
WHEREAS, William Penn wrote a Frame of Government of
Pennsylvania that established a democratic system containing
full freedom of religion, fair trials featuring independent
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juries, assemblies consisting of elected representatives of the
people and a separation of powers in the government, all ideas
that later formed the crux of the Constitution of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, William Penn described Pennsylvania as his "holy
experiment" and from it he hoped a nation based on justice would
grow; and
WHEREAS, William Penn's charter exists as the formal
beginning of the colony and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
and through it, William Penn established the first example of
democracy in what would become the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Our citizens benefit from learning more about the
overall history of this Commonwealth from its founding and how
the principles of governance within the Commonwealth date back
to the beliefs of William Penn; and
WHEREAS, The history of Pennsylvania exists as a kaleidoscope
of stories and people, with each area of this Commonwealth
having multiple stories of history involving key characters and
events that create and establish Pennsylvania's heritage; and
WHEREAS, The act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.676, No.210) provides
for the observance of March 14 each year as "Charter Day" and
urges the residents of this Commonwealth, the public schools and
other educational institutions and patriotic, religious,
historical and veterans' organizations to observe the
anniversary of the execution of the royal charter by King
Charles II; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
the Pennsylvania State Archives and the State Historical Records
Advisory Board each works to inform our residents about the
Commonwealth's heritage, including sponsoring an annual "Charter
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Day" event in the State Museum of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, This free event includes a presentation of the 1681
charter as well as information about Penn's Great Law of 1682,
the 1698 William Penn family bible, a William Penn reenactor,
stories of Pennsylvania history and other programs; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has 23 other State historic sites and
museums and numerous other historical organizations that
continue to operate, largely thanks to the assistance of
volunteers and other groups that have donated their money, time
and other resources so that residents can remain well informed
about the fabric of this Commonwealth's history; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
14, 2017, as "Charter Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the residents, schools, other educational
institutions and patriotic, religious, historical and veterans'
groups be urged to participate with any and all "Charter Day"
activities sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission, the Pennsylvania State Archives, the State
Historical Records Advisory Board, the 23 other State historic
sites and museums or those offered by any of the many other
historical organizations within this Commonwealth; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the volunteers and other residents who keep
history alive through their support and work for the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania
State Archives, the State Historical Records Advisory Board, the
23 other State historic sites and museums or through the
numerous other historical organizations within this Commonwealth
be honored for their efforts.
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