SLS 17RS-530 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 63
BY SENATOR WHITE
COMMENDATIONS. Commemorates the Bicentennial Anniversary of the incorporation
of the city of Baton Rouge and encourages civic participation in its year-long celebration,
BR200.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To commend and congratulate the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and its citizenry and
3 public officials on the Bicentennial celebration of municipal incorporation and to
4 encourage civic participation in the year-long calendar of events known as BR200.
5 WHEREAS, January 17, 2017, marks an historic occasion for the municipality as the
6 two hundredth anniversary of the official proclamation declared by the Honorable Jacques
7 Villere', Governor of Louisiana, in which the hamlets of Spanish Town, Aubert Town,
8 Garcia's Bayou, and Beauregard Town were combined into a single plat that set the
9 boundaries for the town of Baton Rouge; and
10 WHEREAS, since European explorers such as Iberville and Bienville, first set foot
11 on the fertile soil that would become Baton Rouge, the French wording for "red stick", the
12 city's future has been wrought by its wealth of natural resources, its strategic location along
13 the Mississippi River as a navigable gateway to trade, and its potential for commercial
14 ventures; and
15 WHEREAS, as the site of the state capitol of Louisiana since 1882 and the seat of
16 local administration for the parish of East Baton Rouge, the city has been an epicenter for
17 government, educational opportunity, and commercial and service entrepreneurship; and
18 WHEREAS, today, the geographic footprint of Baton Rouge covers eighty square
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SLS 17RS-530 ORIGINAL
1 miles with a population estimate for the metropolitan area that numbers over eight hundred
2 thousand; and
3 WHEREAS, the aesthetics of Baton Rouge are revealed in the hospitality of its
4 people, its rich history, unique cultural heritage, traditions, historic buildings, beautiful
5 landscapes, and delicious cuisine; and
6 WHEREAS, formed in 2016, the Bicentennial Committee represents a broad base
7 of organizations that came together to confect an effective plan to promote the city's
8 attributes; and
9 WHEREAS, the Bicentennial Committee created a "Red Stick" mascot, engaged in
10 social media platforms, and encouraged merchants to incorporate the BR 200th Anniversary
11 logo into their own marketing schemes; and
12 WHEREAS, "BR200" is a calendar of activities planned for 2017; it is festooned
13 with festivals, museum collections, music concerts, historic re-enactments, homecomings,
14 displays of artifacts and significant documents; plus the creation of folk art and memorabilia
15 rendered to denote this special event and to celebrate the history of the Capitol City; and
16 WHEREAS, David Norwood, local artist and award-winning cartoonist, has created
17 a commemorate poster that captures the historic impact of the Mississippi River, Louisiana
18 State University, Exxon-Mobil refinery, and architecture of the state capitol buildings; and
19 WHEREAS, "200 Things To Do" is a bucket list of favorite local experiences to be
20 savored and shared; the list includes enjoying everyday neighborhood adventures, partaking
21 in craft cuisine and libations from one-of-a-kind eateries, and visiting historic sites and
22 hidden away places; and
23 WHEREAS, Baton Rouge is a treasure trove of art, music, festivals, and sports
24 venues surrounded by the natural beauty and ecology of South Louisiana; and
25 WHEREAS, the friendly citizenry of Baton Rouge strive to preserve and celebrate
26 a way of life that has survived since its inception, and together contemplate a future filled
27 with hope and prosperity for generations to come; and
28 WHEREAS, the Bicentennial Anniversary of Baton Rouge merits extraordinary
29 recognition, as it celebrates the unique contributions the city of Baton Rouge and its citizens
30 have made to the betterment of the state of Louisiana and the world.
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SLS 17RS-530 ORIGINAL
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
2 commend the citizenry of the city of Baton Rouge on its two hundred years of incorporation.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
4 recognize the successful efforts of the Honorable Sharon Weston Broome, mayor of Baton
5 Rouge, the membership of the Metro Council, and the Baton Rouge Bicentennial Committee
6 to commemorate this historic event.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
8 recognize the singular and unique status that the capitol city of Baton Rouge holds within
9 the state of Louisiana and does hereby commend its citizens for their extraordinary
10 contributions to the betterment of their state and for their joie de vivre.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
12 Honorable Sharon Weston Broome, mayor-president of the city of Baton Rouge, Andre
13 Moreau, honorary co-chair of the Bicentennial Committee, and Paul Arrigo, president of
14 Visit Baton Rouge.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Suzi Montague.
DIGEST
SCR 63 Original 2017 Regular Session White
Commends Baton Rouge on its 200th anniversary of incorporation.
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