HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 789        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1922

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Bruce J. Ayers

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying resolution:

Resolutions memorializing the Congress of the United States to declare the city of Quincy as the most patriotic city in America.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 789        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1922

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 3128 OF 2015-2016.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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Resolutions memorializing the Congress of the United States to declare the city of Quincy as the most patriotic city in America.

Whereas Quincy is the only community in America that is the birthplace of two U.S. Presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams;

Whereas Quincy is the only community in America that is the final resting place of two U.S. Presidents and two First Ladies;

Whereas Quincy is the home of America's first presidential library, the Stone Library at Peacefield, which houses 14,000 books from two presidents and other national treasures;

Whereas Quincy is one of just four communities in the United States that's the home of two signers of the Declaration of Independence;

Whereas Quincy is the birthplace of famed patriot John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress who boldly wrote his signature on the Declaration of Independence so large that King George “could read his name without spectacles”;

Whereas Hancock Cemetery in Quincy is the final resting place of 69 veterans of the American Revolution;

Whereas the Massachusetts Constitution, the world's oldest existing constitution and inspiration for the U.S. Constitution, was written in Quincy;

Whereas North Quincy High School is believed to be the only school in the nation that produced two Medal of Honor recipients in World War II; and is also the alma mater of Maj. Gen. Charles Sweeney, the only man to fly both atomic bomb missions;

Whereas Quincy was the home of two shipyards in America's mighty “Arsenal of Democracy” that helped triumph over global tyranny in both World War I and World War II;

Whereas the inspirational phrase “Kilroy Was Here,” which became a patriotic rallying cry that buoyed the spirits of American soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines overseas in World War II, originated in the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy;

Whereas Quincy is proud home of the oldest Flag Day parade in the nation, held each June 14 since 1952, followed by the unfurling of a 60-foot-long American flag, flyover, patriotic song and fireworks celebration;

Whereas Quincy is the home of 108 sites listed on the national Register of Historic Places; and the home of seven National Historic Landmarks;

Whereas thousands of men and women from Quincy continue to serve the advancement of their nation today, in the military, in volunteerism and in service to their fellow man;

Whereas Quincy remains a city proud of its patriotic legacy and great contributions to American history and the advancement of representative governments on our own shores and around the globe, and is a strong, prosperous and diverse community today;

Resolved, that The General Court urges the United States Congress to declare the city of Quincy as the most Patriotic City in America; and be it further

Resolved, that copies of these resolutions be forwarded by the Clerk of the House to the Vice-President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the members of the Massachusetts Congressional delegation.