PROCLAMATION

PROCLAIMING NOVEMBER 23 THROUGH

NOVEMBER 29, 1997 AS CHRISTIAN

HERITAGE WEEK IN NEWCASTLE, WYOMING

WHEREAS the Preamble to the Constitution of the State of Wyoming states that: “We, the people of the State of Wyoming, grateful to God for our civil, political and religious liberties, and desiring to secure them to ourselves and perpetuate them to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution.”; and

WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence of the United States of American states that: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”; and

WHEREAS on June 21, 1776, John Adams wrote, “Statesmen, my dear Sir, may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.”; and

WHEREAS George Washington enunciated: “Animated alone by the pure spirit of Christianity, and conducting ourselves as the faithful subjects of our free government, we may enjoy every temporal and spiritual felicity;”; and

WHEREAS Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, write: “Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed the conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?”; and

WHEREAS James Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution, advocated “the diffusion of the light of Christianity in our nation” in his Memorial and Remonstrance; and

WHEREAS Patrick Henry quoted Proverbs 14:34 for our nation: “Righteousness alone can exalt a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any;”; and

WHEREAS George Mason, in his Virginia Declaration of Rights, forerunner to our U.S. Bill of Rights, affirmed: “That it is the mutual duty of all to practice Christian forbearance, love and charity toward each other;”; and

WHEREAS Thanksgiving week is an appropriate time to center attention on thanks to Almighty God for the “Blessings of Liberty”, to ask His help in reinsuring “domestic Tranquility”, and to recognize our national need to reaffirm our “reliance on the protection of divine Providence” in keeping America a “Free and Independent” Nation:

NOW, THEREFORE, I GREG JAMES, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEWCASTLE, WYOMING, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM NEVEMBER 23 THROUGH NOVEMBER 29, 1997 AS CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK IN NEWCASTLE, WYOMING.

DATED and PROCLAIMED this 17^thday of June, 1997.

CITY OF NEWCASTLE:  Greg James, Mayor

Attest:

Paul Scheck

City Clerk/Treasurer