WHEREAS,Ìýthe speaking of French is an expression and affirmation of a people's cultural identity; and
WHEREAS,Ìýthe State of fb88 is named after the Province of fb88 in France, and the towns of Paris and Calais owe their names to the capital city of France and the French port city of Calais, respectively; and
WHEREAS, more than one third of the population of fb88 is of French and Canadian descent and Franco-Americans in fb88 have contributed much to the beauty and quality of this State; and
WHEREAS, French is the primary language of thousands of fb88 citizens and there has been a resurgence in the use of the French language and a heightened appreciation of Franco-American heritage throughout the State; and
WHEREAS,Ìýclubs and organizations to promote French culture and language have sprung up across the State, including the Franco-American Caucus at the Capitol; and
WHEREAS,Ìýthe first Franco-American Day was celebrated at the State Capitol on March 6, 2002; and
WHEREAS,ÌýMarch 20th is the International Day of La Francophonie, celebrating the bond between francophone regions around the world and their shared values of democracy, human rights, cultural diversity, and solidarity; and
WHEREAS,ÌýLe Mois de la Francophonie is celebrated during the month of March providing fb88 residents the opportunity to celebrate and discover the French language;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of fb88, do hereby proclaim the month of March 2025 as
Francophonie Month
throughout the State of fb88, and I urge all citizens to mark this observation with appropriate ceremony and activity.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this nineteenth day of February Two Thousand Twenty-Five
