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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
WHEREAS, five signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish descent, three
signers were Irish born and twenty-two Presidents of have proudly proclaimed their Irish American
heritage; and
WHEREAS, Irish born Commodore John Barry fought the last sea battle of the American
Revolution off the coast of Florida and was recognized by the United States Congress in September
of 2002 as the "First Flag Officer of the United States Navy"; and
WHEREAS, the Irish first came to Spanish "La Florida" in the 1500s; first as missionaries
and mercenary soldiers and then as planters, traders, businessmen, doctors and administrators and
three of the Spanish Governors of"La Florida" were Irish military officers; and
WHEREAS, Father Richard Arthur,an Irish-born priest from Limerick who was appointed
parish priest for St. Augustine in 1597 and ecclesiastical judge of"La Florida, " established the
first public school in America and opened it to both boys and girls of all races; and
WHEREAS, Irish Floridians can look back with pride on the legacy of their Irish forebears,
who have contributed significantly to American education, business, sports, literature, science,
engineering, medicine, science and the arts; and
WHEREAS, Irish Americans, 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 contributions of Irish Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert Hoog, Mayor of the City of Cape Canaveral, Brevard
County, Florida, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2018 as
IRISH-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
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