Commonwealth of Massachusetts
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick
Whereas The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States of America, a symbol of the natural character of our country; and
Whereas The bald eagle is unique to North America, and represents the American values of freedom, courage, strength, spirit and excellence; and
Whereas Once facing possible extinction, the bald eagle was listed on the Federal Register of Endangered Species in 1973; and
Whereas The status of the bald eagle was upgraded to the less imperiled “threatened” status in 1995, and remains under the protection of the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; and
Whereas The vigilant efforts of numerous federal and state agencies, organizations and private individuals contributed to the recovery of the bald eagle population,
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim June 20th, 2012, to be,
American Eagle Day
And urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, ninth day of March, in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth
God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts