[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 157 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 157

   To designate September 13, 1993, as ``Commodore John Barry Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 1993

   Mr. Gilman (for himself, Mr. Manton, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Blute, Mr. 
   Dornan, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Neal of 
     Massachusetts, and Mr. Towns) introduced the following joint 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Post Office and 
                             Civil Service

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
   To designate September 13, 1993, as ``Commodore John Barry Day''.

Whereas the United States of America is a nation of immigrants and the 
        contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants to the defense 
        of the public liberty has been a hallmark of Irish Americans;
Whereas during the War for Independence Captain John Barry, a native of County 
        Wexford, Ireland, achieved the first victory for the Continental Navy 
        while in command of the ship ``Lexington'' by capturing the British ship 
        ``Edward'', organizing General George Washington's crossing of the 
        Delaware River which led to the victory at Trenton in 1776, transported 
        gold from France to America while in command of the ship ``Alliance'', 
        and achieved the last victory of the war for the Continental Navy while 
        in command of ``Alliance'' by defeating the British ship HMS 
        ``Sybille'';
Whereas during the War for Independence Captain John Barry rejected British 
        General Lord Howe's offer to desert the Continental Navy and join the 
        British Navy, stating: ``Not the value and command of the whole British 
        fleet can lure me from the cause of my country.'';
Whereas after the War for Independence the United States Congress recognized 
        John Barry as the premier American naval hero of that war;
Whereas in 1787 Captain John Barry organized the compulsory attendance of 
        members of the Pennsylvania Assembly in Philadelphia, thus ensuring the 
        quorum necessary to call a Convention and recommend the ratification of 
        the Constitution;
Whereas on June 14, 1794, pursuant to ``Commission No. 1'', President Washington 
        commissioned John Barry as commodore in the new United States Navy;
Whereas Commodore John Barry helped to build and lead the new United States Navy 
        which included his command of the U.S.S. ``United States'' and the 
        U.S.S. ``Constitution'' (``Old Ironsides'');
Whereas Commodore John Barry is recognized along with General Stephen Moylan in 
        the Statue of Liberty Museum as one of six foreign-born great leaders of 
        the War for Independence;
Whereas in 1991 and 1992 President George Bush proclaimed September 13 as 
        ``Commodore John Barry Day''; and
Whereas designating a day to commemorate Commodore John Barry would be important 
        to United States Navy veterans, Irish Americans, and to all the people 
        of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,
That September 13, 1993, is designated as ``Commodore John Barry Day'', 
and the President of the United States is authorized and requested to 
issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to 
observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

                                 <all>