CHAPTER 865
STATE OF DELAWARE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
DOVER
PROCLAMATION
Wherea s , Richard Bassett, Gunning Bedford, Jr., Jac
o b Broom, John Dickinson, and George Read represented Delaw
a re at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia; and
Whereas, these distinguished delegates and their compatriots, with prudence and farsightedness, developed the strong, yet flexible, foundation upon which our country has flouri
s hed; and
Wherea s , perceiving the necessity for a solid central government, thirty Delaware citizens, ten from each county, met in special convention in Dover, and on December 7, 1787, unanimously ratified the Feder
a l Constitution becoming the first of the ori g
inal thirteen states to do so, thereby occasioning Delaware's honored position as The First State, which is further indicated by the first star on the American Flag; and
Whereas, on May 15, 1939 the General Assembly of the State .
of Delaware officially designated each succeeding December 7 to be 'Delaware Day' in recognition of this historic event; and
Whereas, the purpose of history is not to make us pri s
oners of the past, but rather that we may gain from that past the direction, in
s piration, vision, and courage which will enable us to solve the problems of the present and the future;
Now, therefore, I, Russell W. Peterson, Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby proclaim Sunday, December 7, 1969 as
DELAWARE DAY
in The First State, and urge all schools, civic and fraternal organizations to participate in observances appropriate to this most
significant event. I would also encourage every citizen to review some of the accomplishments which have made our noble heritage possible, so that
you may renew your dedication to the causes for which
so many have given their lives that this heritage may
be further enriched.
Further, I direct that, on this day, our national and state flags be flown from all public buildings; and I urge all citizens
to display the colors on their private residences.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, Russell W. Peterson, Governor of the
State of Delaware, have hereunto set my hand
and caused the Great Seal of the said
State to be hereunto affixed at Dover this 24th
day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred
and sixty-nine, and of the Independence of the
United States of America, the one hundred
and ninety-fourth.
(GREAT SEAL)
RUSSELL W. PETERSON, Governor
Attest: EUGENE BUNTING, Secretary of State