WHEREAS, On April 26 and 27, 2014, the Antelope Valley will host the California Poppy Festival, an annual event to celebrate the state’s most colorful visitor, the California poppy; and

WHEREAS, The California poppy is the official flower of the State of California; and

WHEREAS, The California Poppy Reserve is located in the Antelope Valley and was designated as a state reserve to emphasize the strict protection of a specific resource, the California poppy, by making available significant displays of blooming poppies and associated wildflowers for the public to enjoy; and

WHEREAS, The poppy has always symbolized California’s good life, as its color mirrors California’s climate and charm, and the profusion of its blooms reflects the richness of the Golden State; and

WHEREAS, Many cultures and people in history have used the poppy in their legends and folklore; and

WHEREAS, In Native American history, the Great Spirit sent the Fire Flower to drive away the evils of frost and famine, and to fill the land with warmth and plenty; and

WHEREAS, For the Spanish, the poppy was an omen, a promise that California was rich and fertile, and they called it Copa de Oro, the cup of gold; and

WHEREAS, To the miners of the Gold Rush of 1849, the poppy was a symbol of gold, since the flower and metal shared a common color and both were abundant; and

WHEREAS, The Antelope Valley shares a common commitment to promote among the residents of the State of California an appreciation of the California poppy through tourism and educational opportunities; now, therefore, be it