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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 22, 2013 05:12 PM |
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| From: | Representative Rosita C. Youngblood |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Cosponsorship -- Resolution urging the renaming of Negro Mountain |
| In the near future I plan to reintroduce a resolution (HR 140) that would urge the Governor to create a commission, or take other executive action, to rename Negro Mountain in Somerset County. For those who may not know, Negro Mountain is an approximately 30-mile long ridge of the Allegheny Mountains that spans from Maryland north into the Casselman River in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. In 1756, during the French and Indian War, a battle broke out between Native Americans and volunteers, including British-born pioneer Thomas Cresap. A slave by the name of Nemesis was mortally wounded during the battle, and instead of taking shelter, he told the remaining members of his party to leave, bravely sacrificing himself so the others could retreat to safety. All historical accounts state that Negro Mountain took its name from this battle, notably from the heroism of the "Negro" who gave his life to protect the other volunteers. However, on the Pennsylvania Official Transportation and Tourism Map, there is absolutely no reference to Negro Mountain. Although the name of Negro Mountain may not directly offend residents of the Commonwealth, government officials should take steps to rename the mountain for the man, not the race of the man, who saved the lives of so many. And the fact that the Pennsylvania Official Transportation and Tourism Map distributed by the Department of Transportation does not even have a reference to Negro Mountain highlights the need to change the name of Negro Mountain to something more appropriate for display and print on official documents. At minimum, the Governor should form a commission, or take other executive action, to rename Negro Mountain in Somerset County to accurately reflect the history of the region and the heroism displayed by the African American known as Nemesis in the Negro Mountain conflict of 1756. Cosponsors from last session included: YOUNGBLOOD, CRUZ, BISHOP, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, COHEN, D. COSTA, GROVE, JOSEPHS, KORTZ, MILLARD, READSHAW, STURLA AND WHEATLEY. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this legislation. Thank you in advance for your consideration. |
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| View Attachment | ||
Introduced as HR89