Pennsylvania HR 409: A Resolution designating March 8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday in Pennsylvania.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2818
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 409
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, VENKAT, MAYES, FREEMAN, PASHINSKI, MADDEN,
KAZEEM, McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, RIVERA,
STAMBAUGH, GREINER, MENTZER, JAMES AND ANDERSON,
JANUARY 28, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 28, 2026
A RESOLUTION
Designating March 8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's
345th birthday in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, On March 4, 1681, King Charles II of England granted
William Penn a charter for land in the New World to make up for
a large debt that the king owed to Penn's father; and
WHEREAS, William Penn had initially decided to name the land
"Sylvania," which in Latin means "woods," to which King Charles
II added the prefix "Penn" in honor of William Penn's father,
Admiral Sir William Penn; and
WHEREAS, Admiral Penn had served England as a rear admiral
and vice admiral of Ireland, a vice admiral of England, a
general in the First Anglo-Dutch War and great captain commander
under the Duke of York; and
WHEREAS, William Penn wrote a Frame of Government of
Pennsylvania that established a democratic system containing
full freedom of religion, fair trials featuring independent
juries, assemblies consisting of elected representatives of the
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people and a separation of powers in the government, all ideas
that later formed the crux of the Constitution of the United
States; and
WHEREAS, William Penn described Pennsylvania as his "holy
experiment" and from it he hoped a nation based on justice would
grow; and
WHEREAS, William Penn's charter exists as the formal
beginning of the colony and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
and through it, William Penn established the first example of
democracy in what would become the United States of America; and
WHEREAS, Our residents benefit from learning more about the
overall history of this Commonwealth from its founding and how
the principles of governance within the Commonwealth date back
to the beliefs of William Penn; and
WHEREAS, The history of Pennsylvania exists as a kaleidoscope
of stories and people, with each area of this Commonwealth
having multiple stories of history involving key characters and
events that create and establish Pennsylvania's heritage; and
WHEREAS, "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's birthday are
typically observed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission on the second Sunday of March, which in 2026 is March
8; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
encourages visits to all of its sites in celebration of "Charter
Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
the Pennsylvania State Archives and the State Historical Records
Advisory Board each work to inform Commonwealth residents about
our Commonwealth's heritage through special activities,
including sponsoring an annual "Charter Day" event in the State
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Museum of Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, This free event includes a presentation of the 1681
charter as well as Pennsylvania's copy of a joint resolution of
Congress proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
United States extending the right of suffrage to women and
Pennsylvania's joint resolution for ratification of the 19th
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, stories of
Pennsylvania and other programs; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has 23 other State historic sites and
museums and numerous other historical organizations that
continue to operate, largely thanks to the assistance of
volunteers and other groups that have donated their money, time
and other resources so that residents can remain well informed
about the fabric of this Commonwealth's history; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the residents, schools, other educational
institutions and patriotic, religious, historical and veterans'
groups be urged to participate with any and all "Charter Day"
activities sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
Commission, the Pennsylvania State Archives, the State
Historical Records Advisory Board and the 23 other State
historic sites and museums or those offered by any of the many
other historical organizations within this Commonwealth; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That the volunteers and other residents who keep
history alive through their support and work for the
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania
State Archives, the State Historical Records Advisory Board and
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the 23 other State historic sites and museums or through the
numerous other historical organizations within this Com