00                SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 23 am H                                                                
01 Relating to declaring April 6, 2002, as Alaska Tartan Day.                                                              
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS April 6 has special significance for all Americans, and especially for                                  
04 those Americans of Scottish descent, because the American Declaration of Independence was                               
05 modeled on the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, which was                             
06 signed on April 6, 1320; and                                                                                            
07       WHEREAS Scottish Americans have played a major role in the founding of the                                      
08 United States of America, and nearly half the signatories of the Declaration of Independence                            
09 were of Scottish descent, and the governors of nine of the original 13 states were of Scottish                          
10 ancestry; and                                                                                                           
11       WHEREAS Scottish Americans have made monumental achievements and invaluable                                     
12 contributions to the fields of science, technology, and medicine; and                                                   
13       WHEREAS more than 200 organizations throughout the United States and Alaska                                     
14 already observe Tartan Day on April 6 of each year to honor Scotland's role in the human                                
15 struggle for liberty; and                                                                                               
16       WHEREAS the Scottish Highland Games is a prominent summer event held annually                                   

01 in Eagle River, Alaska, where longstanding Scottish traditions of strength and skill are                                
02 celebrated by many Alaskans and visitors; and                                                                           
03       WHEREAS people of Scottish descent have played a significant role in the history,                               
04 discovery, and exploration of Alaska throughout history, most notably Captain Cook and                                  
05 many of his crew, and there are numerous Alaska landmarks, such as Point MacKenzie,                                     
06 honoring those Scots; and                                                                                               
07       WHEREAS the Alaska State Legislature wishes to recognize the contributions of                                   
08 Alaskans of Scottish descent to Alaska and the United States;                                                           
09       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature requests Governor Tony                                         
10 Knowles to issue a proclamation calling on the people of Alaska to observe April 6, 2002, as                            
11 Alaska Tartan Day and that this resolution is effective immediately.