[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 8151]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     IN RECOGNITION OF NEIGHBOR DAY

 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the 
endeavors of the citizens and Town Council of Westerly, RI, in 
establishing and promoting Neighbor Day. Neighbor Day is an opportunity 
to learn more about others in our communities. It is also a celebration 
of friendship, civility, peace and cooperation. Since 1993, when a 
dispute between two teenagers left one youth dead and another charged 
with murder, Westerly has celebrated Neighbor Day in an effort to 
prevent similar tragedies at home and throughout the world.
  Westerly's tradition has been adopted throughout my state. The Rhode 
Island General Assembly in 1999 designated the Sunday before Memorial 
Day as Neighbor Day for annual statewide observance. It is the hope of 
the citizens of Westerly that Neighbor Day will gain nationwide and 
worldwide recognition, and that its ideals--community, tolerance, and 
nonviolence--will one day become a reality for all.
  I hope my colleagues will join with me in recognizing Westerly's 
achievement in encouraging friendship and respect among all people.
  I ask that following this statement the resolution of the Rhode 
Island General Assembly, declaring statewide recognition of Neighbor 
Day, be printed in the Record.

 Senate Resolution Declaring May 19, 1996 To Be Neighbor Day in Rhode 
                                 Island

       Whereas, Go out of your way to get in touch with your 
     neighbors. Ring doorbells and say ``Hello.'' These are but 
     some of the things we each can do to learn more about the 
     people in our communities; and
       Whereas, In 1993, Westerly became the first town in the 
     Ocean State to declare the Sunday before Memorial Day to be 
     Neighbor Day, and the State of Rhode Island swiftly followed 
     its splendid example. Hopefully national and international 
     recognition of this special day will make its ideals a 
     reality for all; and
       Whereas, While respect and justice for all is often upon 
     our lips, it will take a strong personal commitment by each 
     and every one of us to actualize this dream; now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and 
     Providence Plantations hereby declares May 19, 1996 to be 
     Neighbor Day in Rhode Island. It is so important that all 
     Rhode Islanders learn that the most important moral 
     obligation we all share is to ``Love Thy Neighbor''; and be 
     it further
       Resolved, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is 
     authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of 
     this resolution to Mary Jane DiMaio, MJD Enterprises.

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