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A JOINT MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 7, 2007 AS "SANTA FE DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE

AND RECOGNIZING THE CELEBRATION OF THE FOUR-HUNDRED-YEAR

ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF LA VILLA REAL DE LA SANTA FE DE

SAN FRANCISCO DE ASIS, 1607-1610.

WHEREAS, by 1600, the Pueblo people of the Rio Grande

region had inhabited the area now known as Santa Fe for

hundreds of years; and

WHEREAS, from at least the time of 1607 there existed a

small settlement of Spanish people in that same area; and

WHEREAS, on March 30, 1609 the viceroy of New Spain,

Martin Lopez de Gauna, upon the appointment of Don Pedro de

Peralta as governor and captain general of New Mexico, did

order governor Peralta to establish a villa at the site of

what is now Santa Fe; and

WHEREAS, by the summer of 1610 Peralta had established

the city of Santa Fe; and

WHEREAS, during the period of 2007 through 2010, Santa

Fe shall proudly observe the four-hundred-year anniversary of

the founding of La Villa Real de la Santa Fe de San Francisco

de Asis with suitable events and observances by the residents

of Santa Fe to give thanks for its first four hundred years

and to pass on to their children and grandchildren the Indo-

Hispano heritage; and

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WHEREAS, the city of Santa Fe will develop programs in

celebration of the four-hundred-year anniversary, including

but not limited to educational initiatives, symposia and

public events; and

WHEREAS, the founding of Santa Fe is a seminal event in

the history of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the city of Santa Fe is the oldest capital city

in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the four-hundred-year anniversary of Santa Fe's

founding is meant to have broad, local, regional, national and

international impact; and

WHEREAS, the city of Santa Fe will commemorate March 30,

2009 as the four-hundred-year anniversary of the date of the

viceroy's orders to Peralta to establish the city of Santa Fe

and will celebrate the founding of the city of Santa Fe during

the period of memorial day 2010 through the end of fiestas

that same year;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 7, 2007 be declared "Santa Fe

Day" at the legislature and that congratulations be expressed

to the residents of Santa Fe on the celebration of the four-

hundred-year anniversary of their fair city; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the mayor and city council of the city of Santa

Fe.