CHAPTER 819
STATE OF DELAWARE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
DOVER
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Delaware and all America is being confronted with an energy crisis which could have serious consequences upon the health, welfare and economy of Delaware and her citizens; and
WHEREAS, the awareness of this situation by Delawareans is commendable and their willingness to individually adopt voluntary measures to help ameliorate this crisis is heartening; and
WHEREAS, Proclamations having the force of law ordering certain energy conservation measures have been well-received and heeded by our citizens; and
WHEREAS, the crisis becomes more real and serious as each day passes and it is essential that Government, the private business and industrial community and citizens do all in their power to assist in alleviating the crisis by conserving precious energy reserves and resources; and
WHEREAS, a deeply-rooted tradition of marking the Christmas holidays by displaying multi-colored electrical decorations has developed in this nation and in this State; and
WHEREAS, a substantial conservation of Delaware's useable energy reserves can be realized by the voluntary elimination of exterior electrical Christmas decorations; and
WHEREAS, because of the cooperation of the citizens of Delaware in other programs initiated to conserve energy reserves and because of the special nature of the Christmas season, it is not deemed necessary nor advisable to command the elimination of outdoor electrically operated decoration; and
WHEREAS, Christmas decorations are a peripheral part of the joyous celebration and it is more seemly to request that Delawareans provide a sacrificial gift to the Christ-child by eliminating exterior electrical Christmas lighting.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Sherman W. Tribbitt, Governor of the State of Delaware, hereby suggest and earnestly request that Delawareans in sacrifice provide a gift of energy conservation by voluntarily forgoing the electrical illumination of exterior Christmas displays or decorations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, SHERMAN W. TRIBBITT, Governor of the State of Delaware, have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the said State to be hereunto affixed at Dover this 21st day of December,
(GREAT SEAL) in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and seventy-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and ninety-eighth.
SHERMAN W. TRIBBITT, Governor
Attest: ROBERT H. REED, Secretary of State