PRINTER'S NO. 2404
No. 267 Session of 1999
INTRODUCED BY DeLUCA, COSTA, GIGLIOTTI, MICOZZIE, MELIO,
ARMSTRONG, BEBKO-JONES, BELARDI, CALTAGIRONE, L. I. COHEN,
CORRIGAN, COY, DEMPSEY, EVANS, FAIRCHILD, GEORGE, LaGROTTA,
LEDERER, McGEEHAN, PETRONE, PIPPY, ROBERTS, ROSS, SAINATO,
SATHER, SCHULER, B. SMITH, S. H. SMITH, TANGRETTI, THOMAS,
WILLIAMS, WRIGHT, CAPPABIANCA, FRANKEL, LESCOVITZ, MARKOSEK,
PESCI, PISTELLA, READSHAW, SHANER, WOJNAROSKI, McNAUGHTON,
FORCIER, FICHTER, WALKO, SANTONI, BAKER, HERSHEY, BARRAR,
STABACK, STERN, HARHAI, McCALL, TRAVAGLIO, JOSEPHS, ARGALL,
LAUGHLIN, RAMOS, MANDERINO, YOUNGBLOOD, HESS, HARHART, DALEY,
SCRIMENTI, GRUCELA AND ROHRER, OCTOBER 6, 1999
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 6, 1999
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating October 11, 1999, as "Columbus Day" in Pennsylvania
2 and recognizing the Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade for
3 honoring Christopher Columbus's heritage and contributions to
4 the discovery of the New World.
5 WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer and
6 merchant born in Genoa, Italy, set sail from Palos, Spain, on
7 August 2, 1492, determined to realize the "Enterprise of the
8 Indies" by sailing west; and
9 WHEREAS, At the time of Columbus's travels, conventional
10 wisdom was that sailing westward would be fruitless and
11 dangerous; and
12 WHEREAS, Columbus convinced King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella
13 of Spain to provide financial support for his efforts to map out
14 a new trade route for spices from the Indies; and
1 WHEREAS, Columbus braved the perils of this journey, sailed
2 westward and discovered the New World by making landfall on
3 October 12, 1492; and
4 WHEREAS, Even at his death in 1506, Columbus was unaware of
5 the magnitude of his discovery: he died believing that he had
6 landed in the West Indies, his original destination; and
7 WHEREAS, Columbus's arrival and his discovery of a new trade
8 route were pivotal in the settlement of the New World in later
9 years; and
10 WHEREAS, President Franklin Roosevelt asked that October 12
11 be observed as "Columbus Day" and that Columbus's discovery be
12 celebrated with the recognition of "Columbus Day" on the second
13 Monday of October each year; and
14 WHEREAS, Many cities throughout the nation celebrate
15 "Columbus Day" with parades and festivities; and
16 WHEREAS, The Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade, held this year
17 on Saturday, October 9, is attended by thousands of citizens who
18 gather to celebrate Columbus's heritage and his discovery;
19 therefore be it
20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate October
21 11, 1999, as "Columbus Day" in Pennsylvania and recognize the
22 Pittsburgh Columbus Day Parade for honoring Christopher
23 Columbus's heritage and contributions to the discovery of the
24 New World.
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