CHAPTER 350 - STATE OF DELAWARE - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the 107th General Assembly of the State of Delaware by Resolution approved March 17, 1939, authorized and directed the Governor of the State to proclaim March 29 of each year as "Delaware Swedish Colonial Day", and
WHEREAS from our histories we learn that in 1638 a small band of Swedish colonists, headed by Peter Minuet landed from the ships Kalmar Nyckel and the Fogel Grip, and started not only the first permanent settlement in Delaware, but in the whole Delaware River Valley. Their place of landing was a natural wharf of rocks on the Christina River, in the present City of Wilmington; and
WHEREAS although Swedish authority finally disappeared from the Delaware territory, the people remained, prospered and increased and descendants of the first settlers and those of Swedish birth have long revered the memory of New Sweden which was so fittingly celebrated in our Tercentenary year.
NOW, THEREFORE, in order that the memory of the shrine established in 1938 may be further perpetuated, I, Walter W. Bacon, do hereby proclaim
MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1943 as
DELAWARE SWEDISH COLONIAL DAY
and in observance thereof request the citizens of our State to pay homage through the display of the National and State flags, as well as through appropriate exercises in all the schools, churches, institutions, societies and organizations, and that in addition the National Flag of Sweden be raised in Fort Christina State Park at or near the monument given by the people of Sweden to the people of the United States, as evidence of our appreciation of a shrine to the peace and friendship long existing between the peoples of that stalwart nation and our own beloved country.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I, Walter W. Bacon, have hereunto set my hand, and caused the Great Seal to be hereunto affixed, at Dover, this twenty-fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-three and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and sixty-seventh.
(GREAT SEAL)
By the Governor:
WALTER W. BACON
WILLIAM J. STOREY, Secretary of State.