CHAPTER 466
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, on March 29, 1638, the New Sweden Company, represented by Peter Minuit, Director of the expedition, purchased from five Indian chiefs the land on the west side of the Delaware River extending from Bombay Hook northward to the Schuylkill River, which purchase included land now known as New Castle County in the State of Delaware, and, on the same day, Peter Minuit, his officers and men landed at "The Rocks" and with colemn ceremonies named the area New Sweden; and
WHEREAS, a fort was subsequently built on this site and named Fort Christina in honor of the Queen of Sweden; and
WHEREAS, Fort Christina was the first settlement of the Colony of New Sweden, the first permanent settlement in the Delaware River Valley, and the first settlement in what is today the State of Delaware; and
WHEREAS, this settlement and successive settlements of the Colony of New Sweden marked the beginnings of government, religion, education, agriculture, commerce and industry in our State:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Elbert N. Carvel, Governor of the State of Delaware, by authority of the General Assembly, do hereby proclaim Wednesday, March 29, 1961, as
DELAWARE SWEDISH COLONIAL DAY
and request that the citizens of our State in schools, churches, patriotic and historical societies and other organizations join in observance of this historic day by displaying our National and State Flags on our buildings. It is most appropriate that meetings and ceremonies be held in commemoration of this important Delaware Historic Event.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I, Elbert N. Carvel, 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 20th day of March in the year of Our Lord, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-one, and of the Independence of the United States the One hundred and eighty-fifth.
(GREAT SEAL)
ELBERT N. CARVEL, Governor
Attest: ECISHA C. DUKES, Secretary of State