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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2017 - 2018
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 11, 2018 11:17 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas L. Mehaffie, III |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Designating Amethyst as the Official State Gemstone of PA |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation designating amethyst as the official state gemstone of Pennsylvania. This beautiful purple gem has several unique connections to our state befitting this designation. Pennsylvania is well known for its variety of vast mineral deposits and the mines that work them. Among these is quartz, the most beautiful type of which is the vibrant, purple gemstone, Amethyst. Amethyst is also the focal point of the tiara used to crown the winner of the Miss Pennsylvania pageant. The crown and the Amethyst gemstones featured in it have many unique connections to the state of Pennsylvania. The crown was commissioned by the state's organization of jewelers, the Pennsylvania Jewelers Association and hand made by a Pennsylvania jeweler. The crown is encrusted with 92 carats of Amethyst, all donated by jewelers throughout the State. The focal point of the crown's design was inspired by the Keystone shape, paying homage to the State's nickname. This, fittingly, inspired the placement of the 37 carat Keystone shape Amethyst gemstone at the center of the Miss Pennsylvania crown. Coincidentally, the state plant of Pennsylvania is Penngift Crownvetch, commonly known as "Purple Crown." How fitting that Pennsylvania is represented by the beauty of the attractive purple blooms of the state plant "Purple Crown" and the radiant purple Amethyst gemstones of the "Purple Crown" worn by Miss Pennsylvania. Please join me in cosponsoring this legislation, thank you. |
Introduced as HB2741