Proclamation
City of Tampa
WHEREAS, on November 16, 1776, an American warship, the ANDREW DORIA, sailed into the harbor of St. Eustatius in the West Indies and was given a friendly greeting, the first of its kind by a foreign power to the new flag of the United States; and
WHEREAS, this friendly salute continues to symbolize the deep friendship that exists between the United States and The Netherlands and constitutes one of the longest unbroken diplomatic relationships with any foreign country; and
WHEREAS, over the course of the nineteenth century millions of Dutch immigrants settled in the United States, strengthening its institutions and economy and contributing to its culture; and
WHEREAS, because of the strong ties existing between these two nations, November 16th is annually proclaimed as Dutch-American Heritage Day, a time for citizens of both the United States and The Netherlands to celebrate their shared values of freedom, justice and democracy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dick A. Greco, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the City of Tampa, Florida, do hereby proclaim November 16, 1995 as
"DUTCH-AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY"
in the City of Tampa, Florida and call upon all citizens to join me in acknowledging the essential role performed by the Dutch people in securing American independence and the contributions made by our Dutch ancestors to the political, economic, and cultural development of the United States.
Dated in Tampa, Florida, this 16th day of November, 1995.
Signed,
Dick A. Greco, Mayor
