HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommodore John Barry Day Prorlamartrin
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WHEREAS,the United States of America is a nation of immigrants, and
WHEREAS, the contribution of immigrants to the defense of the Public Liberty has been above
and beyond what the proportion of immigrants in the general population would indicate; and
WHEREAS, John Barry, native of the County Wexford, Ireland volunteered his services and was
commissioned a Captain in the Continental Navy on October 10, 1775, and soon afterwards in command
of the Lexington, gave us one of our first victories at sea with the capture of the Royal Navy Sloop,
Edward;and
WHEREAS, Captain John Barry was principally responsible for organizing the crossing of the
Delaware which led directly to Washington's great victory at Trenton during Christmas 1776; and
WHEREAS, Captain John Barry, in command of the frigate Alliance, having successfully
transported French gold to America to finance the War for Independence, also won the last sea battle of
that war against the HMS Sybille on 10 March, 1783 off the coast of Florida; and
WHEREAS, the United States, in Congress assembled, subsequent to our War for Independence,
recognized Commodore John Barry as the premier American naval hero of the war;and
WHEREAS, Captain John Barry organized the compulsory attendance of members of the
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787,thus insuring that Washington would have the quorum
necessary to adopt the Constitution and recommend it to the States for ratification; and
WHEREAS, when the United States Congress authorized the raising and construction of the
United States Navy, it was to Captain John Barry that the Commander-in-Chief turned to build and lead
our infant Navy. President George Washington conferred, "Commission No. 1", dated, June 14, 1794
upon Captain John Barry with the advice and consent of the United States Senate;and
WHEREAS, it was Commodore John Barry who built and first commanded the United States
Navy and the Squadron which included his flagship the USS United States and Old Ironsides, the USS
Constitution; and
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Rocky Randels, Mayor of the City of Cape Canaveral, do hereby
resolve in concert with and in representation of the other political leaders of the United States, do hereby
proclaim the 13th day of September 2012 as
COMMODORE JOHN BARRY DAY
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