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JOINT RESOLUTION IN HONOR OF ST. PATRICK'S DAY AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE IRISH CONTRIBUTION TO MAINE AND TO THE UNITED STATES
WHEREAS, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, known for bringing Christianity to Ireland and, it is said, for instilling a sense of literacy and learning that allowed Ireland to become the "isle of saints and scholars" when the rest of Europe was in the Dark Ages; and
WHEREAS,  the feast day of St. Patrick is the only national holiday that is given recognition outside its native land, which indicates the Irish influence throughout the world; and
WHEREAS,  the modern secular holiday of St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in America in Boston during colonial days and the first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City was in 1766 and now all Americans celebrate St. Patrick's Day with pride; and
WHEREAS,  millions of Irish people emigrated from Ireland in the 1800s to escape brutal poverty and starvation during the Irish potato famine, and most of those people came to America to start new lives and to embrace and contribute to a new land; and
WHEREAS,  tens of thousands of Irish immigrants arrived in New England and many came to Maine, and the Irish have been an important part of Maine's culture, history and society ever since; and
WHEREAS,  within a few years of their arrival in the United States and in Maine, these Irish immigrants became part of the American cultural landscape while preserving the best of their native culture, and they dedicated themselves to helping build this Nation and State; and
WHEREAS,  4 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Irish-born and 9 signers were of Irish ancestry and 19 Presidents of the United States have proudly claimed Irish heritage, including George Washington, the father of our country; John Fitzgerald Kennedy; and Ronald Reagan; and
WHEREAS,  the 44,000,000 Americans of Irish ancestry, like their forebears, continue to enrich all aspects of life in the United States, in science, education, art, agriculture, business, industry, literature, music, athletics, entertainment and military and government service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Legislature now assembled in the First Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, take this opportunity to encourage the celebration of St. Patrick's Day, and, recognizing the valuable contribution to our State and to our Nation of all Irish-American citizens, we urge the citizens of the State to commend and celebrate the integrity and richness of the Irish culture.