1Observing March 14, 2013, as "Charter Day" in Pennsylvania.

2WHEREAS, On March 4, 1681, King Charles II of England granted
3William Penn a charter for land in the New World to make up for
4a large debt that the king owed to Penn's father; and

5WHEREAS, William Penn had initially decided to name the land
6"Sylvania," which in Latin means "woods" and to which King
7Charles II added the prefix "Penn" to the name in honor of
8William Penn's father, Admiral Sir William Penn, who had served
9England as a rear admiral and vice admiral of Ireland, a vice
10admiral of England, a general in the first Dutch War and great
11captain commander under the Duke of York; and

12WHEREAS, William Penn wrote a Frame of Government of
13Pennsylvania that established a democratic system containing
14full freedom of religion, fair trials using independent juries,

1assemblies consisting of elected representatives of the people
2and a separation of powers in the government, all ideas that
3later formed the crux of the Constitution of the United States;
4and

5WHEREAS, William Penn described Pennsylvania as his "holy
6experiment" and from it, he hoped, a nation based on justice
7would grow; and

8WHEREAS, William Penn's charter exists as the formal
9beginning of the colony and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and
10through it William Penn established the first example of
11democracy in what would become the United States of America; and

12WHEREAS, Our citizens benefit from learning more about the
13overall history of this Commonwealth from its founding until
14today and how the principles of governance within the
15Commonwealth date back to the beliefs of William Penn; and

16WHEREAS, The act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.676, No.210) provides
17for the observance of March 14 of each year as Charter Day and
18urges the people of this Commonwealth, the public schools and
19other educational institutions and patriotic, religious,
20historical and veterans' organizations to observe on that day
21the anniversary of the execution of the Royal Charter by King
22Charles II; and

23WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
24the Pennsylvania State Archives and the State Historical Records
25Advisory Board each works to inform our residents about the
26Commonwealth's heritage, including sponsoring the 14th Annual
27Charter Day event on Sunday, March 10, 2013, in the State Museum
28of Pennsylvania; and

29WHEREAS, This free event includes a presentation of the 1681
30Charter as well as information about Penn's Great Law of 1682, a

1William Penn reenactor, stories of Pennsylvania history and
2other programs; and

3WHEREAS, The charter is sometimes referred to as the
4Commonwealth's "birth certificate" and the charter on display
5was William Penn's personal copy; and

6WHEREAS, The charter will be on display until March 17, 2013;
7and

8WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has 25 other State historic sites and
9museums and numerous other historical organizations that
10continue to operate, largely thanks to the assistance of
11volunteers and other groups that have donated their money, time
12and other resources so that residents can remain well informed
13about the fabric of this Commonwealth's history; therefore be it

14RESOLVED, That the Senate observe March 14, 2013, as "Charter
15Day" in Pennsylvania; and be it further

16RESOLVED, That the residents, schools, other educational
17institutions and patriotic, religious, historical and veterans
18groups be urged to participate in the Charter Day activities
19sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
20the Pennsylvania State Archives, the State Historical Records
21Advisory Board, the 25 other State historic sites and museums or
22those offered by any of the many other historical organizations
23within this Commonwealth; and be it further

24RESOLVED, That the volunteers and other residents who keep
25history alive through their support and work for the
26Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania
27State Archives, the State Historical Records Advisory Board, the
2825 other State historic sites and museums or through the
29numerous other historical organizations within this Commonwealth
30be honored for their efforts.