2025 -- H 6142
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LC002357
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING LA FRANCOPHONIE FLAG RA ISING CEREMONY AT THE RHODE
ISLAND STATE HOUSE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2025
Introduced By: Representatives Phillips, J. Brien, Cruz, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Casey,
Chippendale, Edwards, Kennedy, and Ajello
Date Introduced: March 27, 2025
Referred To: House read and passed
WHEREAS, The “Levee de Drapeau”, Flag Raising ceremony provides a day to 1
celebrate “La Francophonie”, the French-Speaking World and is dedicated to French culture and 2
the French language which unifies people on five continents; and 3
WHEREAS, French is the second-most widely spoken mother tongue in the European 4
Union, and is the primary or secondary language for approximately 310 million people across the 5
world; and 6
WHEREAS, Rhode Island is home to more than 124,000 residents of French descent, 7
9,500 of whom are proud and skilled in the French language, and this multitude of linguistic 8
diversity in our state has served to strengthen us culturally, economically, and intellectually; and 9
WHEREAS, Beginning in 1901, the Alliance Française of Providence, a French cultural 10
center that serves the Providence community, has been helping to “promote the French and 11
Francophone culture and language” and “establish and nurture ties of friendship with our 12
American friends”; and 13
WHEREAS, The Alliance has more than 250 members and 2,500 friends in Rhode Island 14
and offers French classes, monthly luncheons, opportunities to enjoy French conversation, art 15
appreciation events, and a variety of cultural celebrations; and 16
WHEREAS, French culture has played a significant role with contributions in cinema, 17
fashion, cuisine, literature, technology, the social sciences and mathematics and is a valued 18
component to Rhode Island’s vibrancy, economy, and diversity; now, therefore be it 19
LC002357 - Page 2 of 2
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 1
welcomes and joins the Consul of France, members of the Alliance Française de Providence and 2
all Rhode Islanders in commemorating La Francophonie Flag Raising Ceremony and celebrating 3
the French language and culture in Rhode Island; and be it further 4
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 5
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Alliance Française de Providence. 6
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LC002357
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