Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 107 Part 1.djvu/741

 PUBLIC LAW 103-71—AUG. 11, 1993 107 STAT. 715 Public Law 103-71 103d Congress Joint Resolution ) To designate September 13, 1993, as "Commodore John Barry Day". Aug. 11, 1993 [H.J. Res. 157] 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 captiuing the British ship "Edward", organizing General Greorge Washington's crossing of the Delaware River which led to the victory at Trenton in 1776, transported goldfiromFrance 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 Captcdn John Barry organized the compulsoiy attendance of members of the Pennsylvania Assembly in Philadelphia, thus ensuring the quorvun 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 Museimi as one of six forei|^-born great leaders of the War for Independence; Whereas m 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

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