Legislation Document

SPONSOR:	Sen. Huxtable & Rep. Schwartzkopf
Sens. Hocker, Poore, Townsend, Wilson; Reps. Longhurst, Osienski, Parker Selby

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 59

RECOGNIZING MAY 22, 2023 AS NATIONAL MARITIME DAY.

WHEREAS, National Maritime Day was first declared by Congress in 1933 to commemorate the first successful transatlantic voyage by a steamship in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah; and

WHEREAS, the observance honors the contributions of the American Merchant Marine, civilians who have defended the United States since 1775; and

WHEREAS, more than 250,000 Merchant Marine members served during World War II, with 6,700 giving their lives and more than 800 U.S. merchant ships being sunk or damaged; and

WHEREAS, National Maritime Day also honors the maritime industry and the benefits it brings the United States in terms of transportation, jobs, goods, and recreational opportunities; and

WHEREAS, merchant mariners are critical to extending U.S. support and assistance to foreign nations and local communities hit by natural disasters and other crises, and have been crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintaining worldwide supply chains; and

WHEREAS, Delaware’s history is closely aligned with the maritime industry and trade, including many towns, such as Lewes, Milton, Seaford, and Smyrna, having historic ties to the shipbuilding industry; and

WHEREAS, the original Indian River Life-Saving Station in Rehoboth Beach was built in 1876 for use by the U.S. Lifesaving Service, a government organization created to respond to the alarming number of shipwrecks along the coastlines of the U.S. and the precursor to today’s U.S. Coast Guard; and

WHEREAS, Delaware continues to have strong ties to the maritime industry through the Port of Wilmington, the Cape May - Lewes Ferry, and the Delaware City Refinery.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152 ^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the General Assembly hereby designates May 22, 2023, as “National Maritime Day” in the State of Delaware.