Bill Text: VA HJR339 | 2024 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the 2022 and 2023 seaplane flybys in honor of the 1619 Thanksgiving Prayer.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2024-03-07 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ339ER) [HJR339 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HJR339-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, on November 5, 2023, a Virginia-based seaplane, piloted by Don Maxwell, conducted a flyby along the James River waterfront at Berkeley Hundred Plantation and rocked its wings to honor the reenactment of America's historic first official annual Thanksgiving Prayer, which took place in 1619; and
WHEREAS, Don Maxwell, a resident of Prince George County who is certified to fly single engine aircraft, with an additional seaplane rating, has more than 20 years of seaplane aviation experience; and
WHEREAS, the seaplane, technically categorized as a two-seat, light-sport, kit-built, amphibious flying boat is all-weather hangared at Chesterfield County Airport; and
WHEREAS, Don Maxwell annually hosts a Seaplane Splash-In on the James River, attended by other light-sport seaplanes, offering barbecue and spirited, seaplane aviation-related fellowship; and
WHEREAS, the 2023 flyby of the Berkeley Hundred Plantation site, as well as an earlier fly-around in 2022, were set up to broaden awareness within the world of aviation about America's 1619 First Thanksgiving; and
WHEREAS, the 1619 Thanksgiving Prayer, written out by the 1606–1624 Virginia Company, headquartered in London, England, was to be read aloud by the voyagers from the 957-year-old Berkeley Castle, near Bristol, when they first arrived at the assigned James River location; and
WHEREAS, immediately upon landing, the voyagers knelt on a small waterfront knoll and heard the 1619 Thanksgiving Prayer: "We ordaine that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantacon in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God."; and
WHEREAS, the Thanksgiving flyby activity was arranged by Chancellor Steven C. Smith, Henricus Colledge (1619)®, America's First Colledge – Revived, founded by the historic First Virginia General Assembly, convened in the 1617 Church on Jamestown Island; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the 2022 and 2023 seaplane flybys in honor of the 1619 Thanksgiving Prayer; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare copies of this resolution for presentation to Don Maxwell and Chancellor Steven C. Smith of Henricus Colledge (1619)® as an expression of the General Assembly's appreciation for the increased awareness of the historic 1619 Thanksgiving Prayer.
