HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Regular_Tab 01_03/12/2015 • Irish American Heritage Month
WHEREAS, by 1776 nearly 300,000 Irish nationals had emigrated to the American colonies and played a
crucial role in America's War for Independence; and,
iNHEREAS, five signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish descent and three signers Irish
born; and,
WHEREAS, Irish Americans helped to fashion a system of government for our young Nation; and,
WHEREAS, twenty-two Presidents have proudly proclaimed their Irish American heritage; and,
WHEREAS, in 1792 Irish bom James Hoban provided the architectural plans for the White House and
served as one of the supervising architects for the construction of the Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Irish born Commodore John Barry was recognized by the United States Congress in
September of 2002 as the "First Flag Officer of the United States Nav�'; and,
WHEREAS, Commodore John Barry fought the last sea battle of the American Revolution off the coast of
Florida; and,
WHEREAS, in 1813 Captain Oliver Perry, An Irish American, achieved a major naval victory in the Battle
of Lake Erie; and,
WHEREAS, in 1942, the 5 Sullivan brothers made the ultimate sacrifice for democracy and freedom
• during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal and later had the Destroyer USS Sullivan commissioned in their
memory; and,
WHEREAS, the Irish first came to Spanish "Ia Florida" in the 1500s — first as missionaries and mercenary
soldiers and then as planters t5raderws, businessmen, doctors and administrators; and,
WHEREAS, three of the Spanish Governors of "Ia Florida" were actually Irish military officers; and,
WHEREAS, Fr. Richazd Arthur, an Irish-born priest from Limerick who was appointed parish priest for
St. Augustine in 1597 and ecclesiastical judge of "I� Florida," established the first public school in
America and opened it to both boys and girls of all races; and,
WHEREAS, Andrew Jackson, whose family came from County Antrim, served as Florida's military
governor following its acquisition by the United States; and
WHEREAS, Irish American, since America's inception, have provided and continue to provide
leadership and service to this nation's political, business and religious establishments; and,
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and the many valuable
contnbutions of Irish Americans
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Village of Tequesta recognizes Irish American
Heritage Month.
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