No. 39
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
218th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman MICHAEL PATRICK CARROLL
District 25 (Morris and Somerset)
Assemblyman REED GUSCIORA
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
SYNOPSIS
Designates week of July 4 each year as "Historical Reenactor and Interpreter Week" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Joint Resolution designating the week of July 4 each year as "Historical Reenactor and Interpreter Week" in New Jersey.
Whereas, The practice of historical reenactment and interpretation involves people who recreate a historical event or period with their costumes and activities; and
Whereas, In New Jersey, historical reenactors and interpreters bring to life the battalions and regiments as well as the key battles waged by residents of the State; and
Whereas, Reenactors and interpreters provide to the public a visible face of the past and an accessible, educational, and engaging glimpse of what life was like during the historical period they represent and inhabit; and
Whereas, Through events like Patriots Week in Trenton and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth in Manalapan, and in historic houses and buildings such as the Old Barracks in Trenton, historical reenactors and interpreters remind us in a creative and lively way of New Jersey's central place in American history; and
Whereas, Designating a week each year in this State as "Historical Reenactor and Interpreter Week" would celebrate the efforts of historical reenactors and interpreters in this State and help publicize the historical events they recreate, further educating the public about New Jersey history; and
Whereas, Designating such a week would also stimulate heritage tourism which, according to a study by the New Jersey Historic Trust, attracts 11 million visitors and generates $2.8 billion in visitor spending and $715 million in federal, State, and local taxes; and
Whereas, Heritage tourism provides a sense of place and community pride for our residents and is a resource for community development; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The week of July 4 each year is designated as "Historical Reenactor and Interpreter Week" in New Jersey.
2. The Governor may annually issue a proclamation and call upon historical reenactors and interpreters to dress in their outfits and all citizens of this State to tour historic sites and observe this celebration each year with appropriate events and activities.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates the week of July 4 each year as "Historical Reenactor and Interpreter Week" in New Jersey.
Historical reenactment and interpretation involves people who recreate a historical event or period with their costumes and activities. In New Jersey, historical reenactors and interpreters bring to life the battalions and regiments as well as the key battles waged by residents of the State, and provide to the public a visible face of the past and an accessible, educational, and engaging glimpse of what life was like during the historical period they represent and inhabit. Through events like Patriots Week in Trenton and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth in Manalapan, and in historic houses and buildings such as the Old Barracks in Trenton, historical reenactors and interpreters remind us in a creative and lively way of New Jersey's central place in American history. Designating a week each year in this State as "Historical Reenactor and Interpreter Week" would celebrate the efforts of historical reenactors and interpreters in this State and help publicize the historical events they recreate, further educating the public about New Jersey history. Such a week would also stimulate heritage tourism which, according to a study by the New Jersey Historic Trust, attracts 11 million visitors and generates $2.8 billion in visitor spending and $715 million in federal, State, and local taxes. Heritage tourism provides a sense of place and community pride for our residents and is a resource for community development.
Under the resolution, the Governor may annually issue a proclamation and call upon historical reenactors and interpreters to dress in their outfits and all citizens of this State to tour historic sites and observe this celebration each year with appropriate events and activities.