HR 409 — A Resolution designating March 8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday in Pennsylvania.

PRINTER'S NO.    2818

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 409
                                              Session of
                                                2026

     INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, VENKAT, MAYES, FREEMAN, PASHINSKI, MADDEN,
        KAZEEM, McNEILL, HILL-EVANS, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, RIVERA,
        STAMBAUGH, GREINER, MENTZER, JAMES AND ANDERSON,
        JANUARY 28, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JANUARY 28, 2026


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Designating March 8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's
 2      345th birthday in Pennsylvania.
 3      WHEREAS, On March 4, 1681, King Charles II of England granted
 4   William Penn a charter for land in the New World to make up for
 5   a large debt that the king owed to Penn's father; and
 6      WHEREAS, William Penn had initially decided to name the land
 7   "Sylvania," which in Latin means "woods," to which King Charles
 8   II added the prefix "Penn" in honor of William Penn's father,
 9   Admiral Sir William Penn; and
10      WHEREAS, Admiral Penn had served England as a rear admiral
11   and vice admiral of Ireland, a vice admiral of England, a
12   general in the First Anglo-Dutch War and great captain commander
13   under the Duke of York; and
14      WHEREAS, William Penn wrote a Frame of Government of
15   Pennsylvania that established a democratic system containing
16   full freedom of religion, fair trials featuring independent
17   juries, assemblies consisting of elected representatives of the
 1   people and a separation of powers in the government, all ideas
 2   that later formed the crux of the Constitution of the United
 3   States; and
 4      WHEREAS, William Penn described Pennsylvania as his "holy
 5   experiment" and from it he hoped a nation based on justice would
 6   grow; and
 7      WHEREAS, William Penn's charter exists as the formal
 8   beginning of the colony and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
 9   and through it, William Penn established the first example of
10   democracy in what would become the United States of America; and
11      WHEREAS, Our residents benefit from learning more about the
12   overall history of this Commonwealth from its founding and how
13   the principles of governance within the Commonwealth date back
14   to the beliefs of William Penn; and
15      WHEREAS, The history of Pennsylvania exists as a kaleidoscope
16   of stories and people, with each area of this Commonwealth
17   having multiple stories of history involving key characters and
18   events that create and establish Pennsylvania's heritage; and
19      WHEREAS, "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's birthday are
20   typically observed by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
21   Commission on the second Sunday of March, which in 2026 is March
22   8; and
23      WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
24   encourages visits to all of its sites in celebration of "Charter
25   Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday; and
26      WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission,
27   the Pennsylvania State Archives and the State Historical Records
28   Advisory Board each work to inform Commonwealth residents about
29   our Commonwealth's heritage through special activities,
30   including sponsoring an annual "Charter Day" event in the State

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 1   Museum of Pennsylvania; and
 2      WHEREAS, This free event includes a presentation of the 1681
 3   charter as well as Pennsylvania's copy of a joint resolution of
 4   Congress proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the
 5   United States extending the right of suffrage to women and
 6   Pennsylvania's joint resolution for ratification of the 19th
 7   Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, stories of
 8   Pennsylvania and other programs; and
 9      WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has 23 other State historic sites and
10   museums and numerous other historical organizations that
11   continue to operate, largely thanks to the assistance of
12   volunteers and other groups that have donated their money, time
13   and other resources so that residents can remain well informed
14   about the fabric of this Commonwealth's history; therefore be it
15      RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March
16   8, 2026, as "Charter Day" and Pennsylvania's 345th birthday in
17   Pennsylvania; and be it further
18      RESOLVED, That the residents, schools, other educational
19   institutions and patriotic, religious, historical and veterans'
20   groups be urged to participate with any and all "Charter Day"
21   activities sponsored by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum
22   Commission, the Pennsylvania State Archives, the State
23   Historical Records Advisory Board and the 23 other State
24   historic sites and museums or those offered by any of the many
25   other historical organizations within this Commonwealth; and be
26   it further
27      RESOLVED, That the volunteers and other residents who keep
28   history alive through their support and work for the
29   Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania
30   State Archives, the State Historical Records Advisory Board and

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1   the 23 other State historic sites and museums or through the
2   numerous other historical organizations within this Commonwealth
3   be honored for their efforts.




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