Pennsylvania HR 109: A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to make "Patriots' Day" a Federal holiday.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 912
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 109
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HARKINS, JAMES, GIRAL, SAMUELSON, KHAN, CERRATO,
REICHARD, SANCHEZ AND MALAGARI, MARCH 11, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, MARCH 11, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to make "Patriots' Day"
a Federal holiday.
WHEREAS, On April 19, 1775, nearly 700 British soldiers
marched from Boston to Concord in search of weapons and
munitions stored by Massachusetts militiamen; and
WHEREAS, Word quickly spread of the British soldiers'
movements; and
WHEREAS, At sunrise, the British were met by American
militiamen at Lexington; and
WHEREAS, The skirmish left eight militiamen dead and the
British soldiers continued onto Concord; and
WHEREAS, British troops were outnumbered nearly four to one
by Massachusetts farmers and minutemen at the Old North Bridge;
and
WHEREAS, Casualties occurred on both sides, but the British
soldiers fled back to Boston; and
WHEREAS, Militiamen from throughout the region continued to
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attack the British soldiers as they hurried back to the safety
of Boston; and
WHEREAS, While entering the town of Menotomy - now called
Arlington - the British were met with further resistance from
militiamen stationed on either side of the roadway leading back
to Boston; and
WHEREAS, British troops were ordered to clear every dwelling
to eliminate snipers; and
WHEREAS, Houses were then ransacked and set aflame by the
retreating British soldiers; and
WHEREAS, The Battles of Lexington and Concord and the Battle
of Menotomy marked the beginning of the American Revolution; and
WHEREAS, These battles and the American heroes who died in
them are commemorated every year as "Patriots' Day" on the third
Monday of April by several states; and
WHEREAS, "Patriots' Day" has been an official state holiday
in Massachusetts since 1894, in Maine since 1907 and in
Connecticut since 2018; and
WHEREAS, As a nation, we should always celebrate the
sacrifices of Americans in the fight against tyranny; therefore
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to make "Patriots' Day" a Federal holiday; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That we call upon our colleagues in the Senate of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to urge the Congress of the
United States to make "Patriots' Day" a Federal holiday; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
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the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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