Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 395

STATE OF DELAWARE

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, in November, 1637, an expedition of the New Sweden Company consisting of two ships, "Kalmar Nyckel" and the "Fogel Grip" left Gothenburg, Sweden, to establish a colony in the Delaware River Valley, and during the latter part of March, 1638, the two ships anchored off the so-called "Rocks" on the Christina River; and

WHEREAS, this land, having been purchased from five Indian chiefs by Peter Minuit, became Swedish property on March 29, 1638; and

WHEREAS, Fort Christina was the first settlement of the Colony of New Sweden, and the first permanent settlement in the Delaware River Valley, and was also the first permanent settlement in the State of Delaware, and this and successive settlements of the Colony of New Sweden marked the beginnings of government, religion, education, agriculture, commerce and industry in the state; now

THEREFORE, I, J. CALEB BOGGS, Governor of the State of Delaware, by authority of the General Assembly, proclaim Friday, March 29, 1957, as

DELAWARE SWEDISH-COLONIAL DAY

and request citizens of our state in schools, churches, patriotic and historical societies and other organizations to join in appropriate ceremonies of this historic day and to display the national and state flags on our public buildings.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, 1, J. Caleb Boggs, 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 Twenty-first day of March in the year of Our Lord One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and eighty-first.

(GREAT SEAL)

J. CALEB BOGGS, Governor

JOHN N. McDOWELL, Secretary of State