[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 143 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 143

Expressing the sense of Congress that Billerica, Massachusetts, should 
           be recognized as ``America's Yankee Doodle Town''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 1999

  Mr. Meehan submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress that Billerica, Massachusetts, should 
           be recognized as ``America's Yankee Doodle Town''.

Whereas Thomas Ditson, Jr., a Billerica farmer, and a future member of the 
        Billerica Minuteman Company, was seized by British soldiers in March of 
        1775, subsequently tarred and feathered, and paraded through the streets 
        of Boston;
Whereas the soldiers accompanying him were said to have played the tune of 
        ``Yankee Doodle'', on their fifes and drums, and to have sung an 
        original verse of the song which ridiculed his plight;
Whereas the incident inspired outrage among the American Colonists and served to 
        fan the flames of dissidence;
Whereas during the Revolutionary War, ``Yankee Doodle'' was transformed into an 
        anthem of Yankee pride;
Whereas 1 month after the incident that inspired the original song lyrics, on 
        the fateful day of April 19, 1775, Thomas Ditson, Jr., did fight with 
        the Billerica Minutemen in Concord, Massachusetts, at the Battle of 
        Meriam's Corner;
Whereas the residents of Billerica celebrate their Revolutionary heritage every 
        year with a ``Yankee Doodle Homecoming'' festival, honoring Thomas 
        Ditson, Jr., and commemorating the role of Billerica in the fight for 
        American independence; and
Whereas the title ``America's Yankee Doodle Town'' was formally adopted by 
        Billerica's Board of Selectmen in 1988, and reflects the sense of town 
        pride residents feel in Billerica's connection to the song: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that Billerica, Massachusetts, be 
recognized as ``America's Yankee Doodle Town''.
                                 <all>