Declaring 2015 the YEAR OF THE PHILLY FLAG in honor of the flag's 120th Anniversary on MARCH 27, 2015 ~ Philadelphia Flag Day! Beginning January 1 through December 31, 2015, the City will engage in a year-long celebration of our hometown flag resulting in the City fully Flagged!(tm)

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Civic Flag was conceived and designed by the Rev. Dr. Henry C. McCook, esteemed Entomologist and Vice President of the Academy of Natural Sciences Drexel University (1882); and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Civic Flag was the first adopted City flag in the nation (March 27, 1895) and the only American city flag never to be altered. (These facts are verified in a letter from the PA Historical and Museum Commission dated Feb. 21, 2014); and

WHEREAS, We recognize the meaningful message symbolized on our City flag:

PHILADELPHIA MANETO! “Let Brotherly Love Continue” through Peace, Hope, Justice, and Prosperity for all citizens; and

WHEREAS, What William Penn began by naming his City for Love, our Philadelphia Civic Flag asks us to continue. The Philadelphia Flag connects all of us to our city's founding mission - to let Love be the guiding force; and

WHEREAS, We hope that all members of Council will get their Districts Flagged!™ by taking the Philly Flag's unifying message to their constituents as a part of the Citywide effort to connect all citizens to their hometown flag. We ask ou Citizens to show support for the flag's unifying message by:

wearing the City Colors and flying the Philly Flag every March 27th, and for all special Philly occasions

attending the annual “gathering of citizens” at the Philly Flag Day Event, March 27th, which includes the presentation of the inspiring Philadelphia Maneto Awards

nominating someone to receive a Philadelphia Maneto Award at Partners for Civic Pride PFCP.ORG

learning “My Pledge to Philadelphia” at PFCP.ORG; and

WHEREAS, We honor the 10th Anniversary of Partners For Civic Pride (2005), working to pursue, promote and celebrate our City flag in an effort to connect/unite the citizenry to their hometown flag and its message of Brotherly Love. We give special appreciation to Will Smith, Sr. who laid the “first brick” in the PFCP foundation. Will's steadfast support and leadership, for over a decade, has inspired PFCP to move forward with its mission to unite Philadelphians via their Philly Flag; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we declare 2015 the YEAR OF THE PHILLY FLAG in honor of the flag's 120th Anniversary on March 27, 2015 ~ Philadelphia Flag Day!

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