SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 36

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Timothy Z. Jennings and Ben Lujan

A JOINT MEMORIAL

PROCLAIMING JANUARY 30, 2012 "CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION DAY IN THE LEGISLATURE"; RECOGNIZING ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF STATEHOOD AND WISHING THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

     WHEREAS, on January 6, 1912, President William H. Taft signed the bill making New Mexico the forty-seventh state admitted into the union; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's first state governor, William C. McDonald, was also inaugurated on January 6, 1912; and

     WHEREAS, the first state legislative session was held in Santa Fe in 1912, during which Roman L. Baca was elected as speaker of the house of representatives, making him the first Hispanic elected in the United States to serve as a speaker of the house; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico house of representatives was called to order on the first day of the 2012 legislative session by Speaker Ben Lujan, using the same gavel used one hundred years earlier by Roman L. Baca, a reminder that one never has to travel far to be close to a piece of history in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the 1912 legislative session considered bills discussing teacher salaries, regulation of investments, land grant recovery and the management of New Mexico's limited water resources; and

     WHEREAS, bills addressing teacher salaries, regulation of investments, land grant recovery and the management of New Mexico's limited water resources have been introduced in the 2012 legislative session; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico has established itself as a state of stability and versatility, a state that values history and tradition while embracing change and looking to the future; and

     WHEREAS, during its first hundred years of statehood, New Mexico has distinguished itself as a leader in scientific research, a destination for tourists from around the world and home for several vibrant cultures that somehow manage to live in harmony with one another; and

     WHEREAS, during this first one hundred years of statehood, New Mexico has served as the birthplace of the first atomic bomb as well as the first green chile cheeseburger; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans take pride in the past one hundred years of their art, culture, diversity and history and in their beautiful landscape; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is known for doing things in a unique way, because a one-of-a-kind state must alter popular methods in order to address the particular needs of its dynamic citizenry; and

     WHEREAS, many dedicated New Mexicans have already taken time to acknowledge the statehood centennial; and

     WHEREAS, the New Mexico history museum has developed a centennial exhibit, complete with a United States flag that has only forty-seven stars, lectures and photograph and poster contests; and

     WHEREAS, communities from Raton to Lordsburg, from Farmington to Jal, and from the Navajo Nation to the Mescalero Apache reservation are holding events throughout the year to commemorate one hundred years of statehood; and

     WHEREAS, one hundred years from now, New Mexico will continue to embody the ideals on which the state was founded, and New Mexicans will once again celebrate the uniqueness and traditionally rich heritage of their incredible state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 30, 2012 be proclaimed "Centennial Celebration Day in the Legislature"; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that New Mexicans across the state be encouraged to take a moment to celebrate one hundred years of statehood and to attend the events being held throughout the year; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that legislators and other visitors to the city of Santa Fe be encouraged to visit the statehood centennial exhibit at the New Mexico history museum.

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