Bill Text: GA HB126 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Holidays; Patriots Day the nineteenth of April each year; designate

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-14 - House Withdrawn, Recommitted [HB126 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-HB126-Introduced.html

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11 LC 34 2832

House Bill 126

By: Representatives Benton of the 31st, Dutton of the 166th, Cooke of the 18th, Harden of the 28th, Allison of the 8th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, so as to designate the nineteenth day of April in each year as "Patriots Day" in Georgia; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

WHEREAS, April 19, 1775, marked a significant day in the history and founding of our great nation; and

WHEREAS, on this date, British regular troops assembled with the intent of confiscating the local militia's arms in the town of Concord, Massachusetts; and

WHEREAS, in the early morning hours a call to arms was sounded by Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Dr. Samuel Prescott, by riding on horseback through the countryside and warning of this imminent act of suppression; and

WHEREAS, minutemen, militia, and colonists responded to this alarm by assembling at the Village Green in Lexington and at the North Bridge in Concord to resist the advance of the British; and

WHEREAS, the ensuing engagement led to the "Shot heard 'round the world," by determined militia, and news of these events led to a galvanization of public opinion in favor of the American Colonies gaining independence from Great Britain; and

WHEREAS, three years later, on April 19, 1778, Colonel Samuel Elbert, commanding three Georgia Navy galleys, Lee, Washington, and Bulloch, encountered three British ships in the Frederica River near St. Simons Island; and

WHEREAS, after five hours of naval action, the British ships were captured by Colonel Elbert and the Georgia Navy, a victory which boosted the morale of all Georgia patriots and caused the British to delay their invasion of Georgia by more than eight months; and

WHEREAS, Patriots Day serves to remind citizens of our Revolution and the sacrifices endured during the years of struggle for American independence.

SECTION 2.

Chapter 4 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to holidays and observances, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:

"1-4-21.

The nineteenth day of April in each year is designated as 'Patriots Day' in Georgia in commemoration of the War of the American Revolution and the struggle for independence."

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.