Resolution 026-1997
Mayor Keith Douglass
RESOLUTION NO. 026-1997
A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE PERIOD FROM 15 DECEMBER,
1997, THROUGH 15 DECEMBER, 1998, AS THE "YEAR OF
COMMEMORATION OF THE U. S. BATTLESHIP MAINE AND THE
SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898". RECOGNIZING THE WEEK
STARTING 14 February, 1998 AS "REMEMBER THE MAINE WEEK"
CALLING ON THE PEOPLE OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA TO
HONOR AND COMMEMORATE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
EXPLODING AND SINKING OF THE NON-NATIVE MA/NEIN HAVANA
HARBOR. PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the people of Monroe County and Key West, Florida, aided and befriended
their neighbors on the Island of Cuba during a series of revolutions and insurrections
throughout the 1890s, and served as a refuge from the harsh policies of the Spanish
Governments of that period, and
WHEREAS, 1998 is the century of the sinking of the battleship Maine and the Spanish-
American War of 1898 that quickly followed, and
WHEREAS, the port of Key West and Monroe County served as the last American port-of-
call for the U.S. Maine before her historic voyage to Havana, Cuba, on 24 January, 1898, and
WHEREAS, the battleship Maine was exploded, with a terrible loss of 280 deaqt,on the
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evening of 15 February, 1898, while peacefully adrift in Havana harbo~nd ':2
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WHEREAS, twenty-seven crew members of the Maine are buried'tfl :the tvfiine ~morial
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Plot at the historic Key West Cemetery in Monroe County, and
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WHEREAS, the Court of Inquiry into the disaster, appointed by President ~Kinl~, met
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on several occasions in the port of Key West, the Key West Custom House and at the Army
Barracks in Monroe County, and
WHEREAS, the islands of Key West and Monroe County served as the "storm center" of
the war with Spain supporting over 100 naval vessels and the Army Fifth Corps, and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Battleship Maine Centennial Commission made up of local citizens
and recognized by the Congress of the United States and the Florida State Legislature, wishes
to hold activities and special commemorative events throughout the year to honor the dead
of the Maine and those men and women who fought in the Spanish-American War, now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA. as follows:
Section 1.
That the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida,
declares the year from 15 December, 1997 through 15 December 1998, as the Year of the U.S.
Battleship Maine and Spanish-American War Centennial. and calls upon all citizens of Monroe
County to join in centennial activities planned throughout the year.
Section 2.
That the week starting 12 February 1998 throughout 18 February 1998, be
specifically designed" Remember the Maine Week" throughout Monroe County, Florida.
Section 3.
That this resolution shall go into effect immediately upon its passage and
adoption and authentication by the signature of the presiding officer and the Clerk of the
Board of County Commissioners.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 16th day of January, 1997.
yes
yes
absent
yes
yes
Y L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
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Dep Clerk
presmaine
By
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