Bill Text: NJ AJR207 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates October 11th of each year as "Kate Smith Day" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [AJR207 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AJR207-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOE HOWARTH
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Designates October 11th of each year as "Kate Smith Day" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating October 11th of each year as "Kate Smith Day" in New Jersey.
Whereas, Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, known as Kate Smith, was an American Singer well known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America;" and
Whereas, Ms. Smith was born in Greenville, Virginia, the youngest of three daughters; and
Whereas, She did not speak until she was four years old, but by the age of five, she was singing at church socials, and by the age of eight, she was singing for service members at Army camps during World War I; and
Whereas, Ms. Smith contributed to selling over $600 million, the equivalent of approximately $10 billion today, of war bonds during a series of marathon broadcasts; and
Whereas, Ms. Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, and she became known as "The Songbird of the South" because of her enduring popularity during World War II; and
Whereas, The Philadelphia Flyers hockey team began playing Ms. Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" before their games and noticed that the fans were more respectful and listened more intently to Ms. Smith's version of the song; and
Whereas, In addition, a statistician noted that the Philadelphia Flyers won most of their games when Ms. Smith's rendition was played before their games; and
Whereas, At the October 11, 1973 season opener for the Philadelphia Flyers, Ms. Smith made a surprise appearance to perform the anthem in-person; the Philadelphia Flyers continued their winning streak and won the game; and
Whereas, Ms. Smith was considered the team's good luck charm, and was asked to perform in-person at critical games; and
Whereas, Ms. Smith was posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990, and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009; and
Whereas, In 2010, a United States commemorative stamp was issued featuring a duplication of the artwork from the cover of the "Kate Smith: The Songbird of the South" CD; and
Whereas, On October 26, 1982, Ms. Smith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, from President Ronald Reagan; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. October 11th of each year is designated as "Kate Smith Day" in the State of New Jersey.
The Governor is respectfully requested to issue a proclamation each year calling upon pubic officials and citizens of the State to observe the day with appropriate activities and programs.
2. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This Joint Resolution designates October 11th of each year as Kate Smith Day in the State of New Jersey.
Kathryn Elizabeth Smith, known as Kate Smith, was an American Singer well known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America." Ms. Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, was posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990 and the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor, from President Ronald Reagan.
