WHEREAS, There are now 44 million Irish Americans in the United States, representing one in every six persons in our country, and four million California Irish; and

WHEREAS, At least eight signers of the Declaration of Independence were of Irish origin, including John Hancock, who was descended from an Ulster family, and Matthew Thornton, James Smith, and George Taylor, who were Irish-born; and

WHEREAS, The Irish love of freedom played so integral a role in the fight for American independence that County Derry-born Charles Thompson made the first finished copy of the Declaration of Independence, John Nixon, whose father was born in County Wexford, was the first to read the document publicly, and John Dunlop, born in County Tyrone, printed the first copy. Edward Fox, a Dublin native, contributed almost a million dollars—a staggering sum in those days—thus playing a major role in the financing of the Continental Army, and died penniless because of his commitment; and

WHEREAS, Irish-born James Hoban and other Irish immigrants assisted in the construction of the United States Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Irish-born John Barry was the first naval hero of the American Revolution, and has been called the Father of the United States Navy; and

WHEREAS, Eighteen United States presidents have proudly proclaimed their Irish heritage; and

WHEREAS, Many Irish immigrants arrived in this country as slaves and indentured servants, and were driven from their own country by starvation, exile, and oppression, all of which they overcame; and

WHEREAS, Since the formation of this country, Irish immigrants were willing to take on the lowliest and most dangerous and back-breaking jobs, including building the eastern portion of the transcontinental railroad, digging the Chesapeake Bay, and working in the nation’s coal mines, and Irish Americans continue to work toward the betterment of our country; now, therefore, be it