Mayor’s Proclamation

In Recognition of
The 14th Annual Children’s Week

Whereas, the 14th Annual Children’s Week celebrating “Parents’ and Children” will take place in Tallahassee from March 29, 2009 to April 5, 2009, bringing thousands of parents, children, professionals, policy makers, community leaders and concerned citizens together to share valuable knowledge and information about children’s issues across the state and in our Capital City; and

Whereas, the purpose of Children’s Week is to create a shared vision of the State of Florida’s commitment to its children and families and to engage a long-term process to develop and implement strategies for moving the shared vision forward; and

Whereas, Children’s Week has teamed up with over 80 leading statewide businesses and non-profit organizations and hundreds of local organizations to expand the network of community involvement and education on a wide array of children and family issues at the local level and conduct events and activities in March and April in all 67 counties focused on improving the health, safety and well-being of Florida’s children and families; and

Whereas, in recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, Prevent Child Abuse Florida, in partnership with the Ounce of Prevention Fund and the Florida Department of Children and Families, is conducting a statewide public awareness and education campaign Winds of Change-It’s Your Turn, and is symbolized by the pinwheel, representing this shift or wind change; and

Whereas, hundreds of local municipalities have officially proclaimed “Children’s Day” and hosted hundreds of events and public activities for parents and children in their community; and

Whereas, the local Children’s Week Celebration in Franklin County will be on March 17, 2009 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at Brown Elementary in partnership with local child care professionals and Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE Apalachicola City Commission do hereby proclaim March 17, 2009 as Children’s Day in Apalachicola and April 5, 2009 as Parent’s and Children’s Day.

Duly executed this 16th day of March 2009.

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor

The Historic City of Apalachicola

Mayor’s Proclamation

In Observance of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WHEREAS, on November 2, 1983, at a White House ceremony inside the Rose Garden, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law creating a national holiday named in honor of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who is also one of the most important and recognized figures in our Nation’s History; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., exemplified the values of equity, justice, and brotherly love, and through nonviolence brought an end to segregation and other forms of oppression, both in the United States of America and abroad; and

WHEREAS, the sun set early, ending the life of the dreamer but not the dream of this young thirty-nine year old preacher from Atlanta Georgia; and

WHEREAS, more than forty years after his assassination, his dream of living in a world where one is judged only by their character and not the color of their skin, has finally rung true with the election of Barack H. Obama as the first person of color elected President of these United States of America; and

WHEREAS, we celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on the eve of the Inauguration of Barack H. Obama as President, let us move from this day in the spirit of brotherly love, as one Nation under God with Liberty and Justice for all.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor of the Historic City of Apalachicola, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the City Charter, do hereby proclaim and call upon all residents of the City of Apalachicola, to observe, celebrate and adopt the spirit of service on January 19, 2009, in honor of the legacy left behind by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to prepare for the dawn of a new era with the presidency of Barack H. Obama.

HEREBY PROCLAIMED, in the year of our Lord this 15th day of January, 2009.

FOR THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA

VAN W. JOHNSON, SR., MAYOR

Mayor’s Proclamation

Recognizing and Honoring
Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin

WHEREAS, Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin have been outstanding and respected residents of the City of Apalachicola, Florida, as loving parents , family advocates, spiritual leaders and friends; and

WHEREAS, Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin have shown their personal and spiritual commitment to their Lord by virtue of their three years of spiritual leadership and guidance to their congregation and the community of Apalachicola and surrounding area as Co-Pastors of The Love & Worship Center Church; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Apalachicola desire to recognize, honor and express their pride and appreciation to Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin for their personal achievements, numerous community contributions and commitments to the City of Apalachicola as spiritual leaders and confidants, and most rewarding as activist in their service, dedication and commitment to our local youth and citizens.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT PROCLAIMED, on behalf of the City Commission and citizens of Apalachicola, I, Van W. Johnson, Sr., as Mayor, have the privilege to give special recognition and honor to Pastors Leonard and Shelia Martin, and hereby proclaim that Friday, December 19, 2008 is The Love & Worship Center Church “Pastor Appreciation Day” in the City of Apalachicola and encourage all its citizens to express their appreciation for the many contributions Pastors Leonard and Sheila Martin have bestowed upon our community.

Dated this 2nd day of December, 2008

Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor
City of Apalachicola

Mayor’s Holiday Season Proclamation

WHEREAS, more than three centuries ago, our forefathers, after a time of hardship and peril, humbly and respectfully set aside a special time of the year during which to give thanks to God for their preservation and for the good harvest from which they had benefited and in celebration of God’s great gifts. Grave and unknown dangers remained. Yet by their faith, strength of character and hard work they looked to the future with a shared hope of better things to come; and

WHEREAS, this year, as we begin the holiday season, we look upon a past year of great anxiety in our country, and, as the year approach its end, awesome perils again remain to be faced. We are at war on two fronts. Our economy faces great challenges known to but a few in this generation. Yet we have, as in the past, ample reason to be thankful and to have hope for the future. In the words of the late President Kennedy “we are grateful for the blessings of faith and health and strength and for the imperishable spiritual gifts of love and hope; and

WHEREAS, we too give thanks, for our freedom as a nation; for the strength of our arms and the faith of our friends; for the beliefs and confidence we share; for our determination to stand firmly for what we believe to be right and to resist mightily what we believe to be wrong. And for the heritage of liberty bequeathed by our ancestors, which we are privileged to preserve for our children and our children’s, children.”

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Van W, Johnson, Sr., Mayor of the great City of Apalachicola, proclaim Friday, the twenty-eighth day of November of this year, as the official beginning of the holiday season. I urge all citizens to make this season not merely a holiday from their labors, but rather a time of consideration. Let us observe this time with reverence and with goodwill for others. Let us through our labor and thoughts demonstrate the strength and will to not only overcome our temporary adversities and preserve our blessings, but also to extend them to those among us who by providence are less fortunate.

HEREBY PROCLAIMED, at the City of Apalachicola on this 28th day of November in the year of our Lord 2008.

FOR THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA

VAN W. JOHNSON, SR., MAYOR

Mayor's Veterans Day Proclamation

WHEREAS, at 11:00 AM on November 11, 1918, after four years of bitter conflict, the world rejoiced and celebrated the signing of an Armistice by the Allied Forces and the Federal Republic of Germany for the cessation of World War I; and

WHEREAS, to remember the sacrifices that the men and women made to ensure that lasting peace, on November 11, 1919, Woodrow Wilson the 28th President of the United States proclaimed an Armistice Day in the United States; and

WHEREAS, on June 4, 1926, the United States Congress passed a concurrent resolution requesting Calvin Coolidge the 30th President of the United States to issue another proclamation to observe November 11 with all the appropriate ceremonies; and

WHEREAS, on May 13 1938, twenty-years after World War I, Congress passed an Act making November 11 in each year a federal holiday, a day to be dedicated and celebrated thereafter as Armistice Day; and

WHEREAS, in order for a grateful Nation to pay homage to veterans of all wars, on June 1, 1954, Dwight Eisenhower the 34th President of the United States, signed into law a bill introduced by U.S. Representative Edwin Rees from Kansas renaming Armistice Day to Veterans Day; and

WHEREAS, in 1971 Richard Nixon the 37th President of the United States, declared Veterans Day to be observed on the second Monday in November; and

WHEREAS, because the commemoration of Veterans Day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance, on September 20, 1975, Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11; and

WHEREAS, Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls:

NOW THEREFORE, I, Van W. Johnson, Sr., Mayor of the City of Apalachicola, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the City Charter, do hereby proclaim and call upon all residents of the City of Apalachicola, to observe a moment of silence at 11:00 AM on November 11, 2008, in remembrance of all the Veterans who fought to safeguard our heritage and freedom, and to celebrate and proudly display the flag of the United States of America throughout the City of Apalachicola on Tuesday, November 11, 2008, Veterans Day.

HEREBY PROCLAIMED, in the year of our Lord this 9th day of November, 2008.

FOR THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA
VAN W. JOHNSON, SR., MAYOR