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2005 SESSION

059702480
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 821
Offered January 21, 2005
Directing the Joint Rules Committee to develop the plans for the 2006 Inaugural Ceremonies to be held at the Reconstructed Capitol in Williamsburg.
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Patrons-- Rapp, Abbitt, Albo, Alexander, Amundson, Armstrong, Athey, BaCote, Barlow, Bell, Black, Bland, Brink, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Carrico, Cline, Cosgrove, Councill, Cox, Dillard, Dudley, Ebbin, Eisenberg, Fralin, Frederick, Gear, Griffith, Hall, Hamilton, Hargrove, Hogan, Howell, A.T., Howell, W.J., Hugo, Hull, Hurt, Ingram, Janis, Joannou, Johnson, Jones, S.C., Keister, Kilgore, Landes, Lewis, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., May, McDonnell, McDougle, McQuigg, Melvin, Miles, Miller, Moran, Morgan, Nutter, O'Bannon, Oder, Parrish, Petersen, Phillips, Plum, Pollard, Purkey, Putney, Reese, Reid, Rust, Saxman, Scott, E.T., Scott, J.M., Shannon, Sherwood, Shuler, Sickles, Spruill, Stump, Suit, Tata, Van Yahres, Ward, Wardrup, Ware, O., Ware, R.L., Watts, Weatherholtz, Welch and Wright; Senators: Bell, Blevins, Cuccinelli, Devolites Davis, Edwards, Hanger, Hawkins, Locke, Mims, Newman, Norment, Obenshain, O'Brien, Potts, Quayle, Rerras, Ruff, Saslaw, Stolle, Stosch, Wagner, Wampler, Watkins and Williams
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, for 81 formative years, from 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the political, cultural, and educational center of what was then the largest, most populous, and most influential of the American colonies; and

WHEREAS, it was in Williamsburg that the fundamental concepts of our republic — responsible leadership, a sense of public service, self-government, and individual liberty — were nurtured under the leadership of patriots such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Mason, Peyton Randolph, Richard Henry Lee, Andrew Lewis, John Marshall, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Nelson, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, more than 100 million visitors have come to Williamsburg since 1932, among them have been world leaders including United States presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and then-Governor George W. Bush; and

WHEREAS, more than 100 heads of state and government have toured the site on their way to visit the White House, and various other officials, ministers, and celebrities have also visited; and

WHEREAS, the legislature first met at Williamsburg on April 21, 1704, when the Capitol on Duke of Gloucester Street was still under construction and the building was last used as a capitol on December 24, 1779, when the General Assembly adjourned to reconvene May 1, 1780 at the new capitol in Richmond.; and

WHEREAS, when Virginia's General Assembly created Williamsburg in 1699, it ordered that its main street "in honor of his Highness William Duke of Gloucester shall for ever hereafter be called and known by the Name of Duke of Gloucester Street" and when President Franklin Roosevelt visited 275 years later to dedicate Duke of Gloucester Street's reconstruction, he said it "rightly can be called the most historic avenue in all America."; and

WHEREAS, the House of Delegates and the Senate are guests of Williamsburg commemorating the Colonial Capitol in the City of Williamsburg every four years, and a special commemorative session of the House of Delegates and Senate is held in the Reconstructed Capitol at Williamsburg; and

WHEREAS, the current Capitol grounds in Richmond are under construction which may pose unseen hazards to the general public; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Joint Rules Committee be requested to hold the 2006 Inaugural Ceremonies at the reconstructed Capitol in Williamsburg; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Commonwealth urge its citizens to recognize and become familiar with the storied history of Williamsburg; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Joint Rules Committee requesting their consideration that the 2006 Inauguration take place at the reconstructed Capitol in Williamsburg.