HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 5
54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019
INTRODUCED BY
Rodolpho "Rudy" S. Martinez and Rebecca Dow
A JOINT MEMORIAL
PROCLAIMING JANUARY 30, 2019 "GRANT COUNTY DAY" IN THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, Grant county is known for its mining, ranching and art communities, blend of Hispanic, Native American and Anglo cultures, blue skies with three hundred sixty days of sunshine per year, vast mountain landscapes and small-town atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, Grant county is the gateway to the vast Gila wilderness; and
WHEREAS, Silver City will celebrate one hundred forty-one years as Grant county's largest city and county seat in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Silver City is the only municipality in New Mexico still operating under the territorial charter issued by the legislative assembly of the territory of New Mexico in 1878; and
WHEREAS, Grant county is the richest county for mining in New Mexico and home to more restaurants than fast food establishments; and
WHEREAS, Grant county is home to western New Mexico university, which will celebrate its one-hundred-twenty-sixth anniversary in 2019, and the world's foremost collections of ancient Mimbres pottery are displayed at the western New Mexico university museum; and
WHEREAS, Grant county is known for its true west history that includes prehistoric Native Americans, Chiricahua Apache and wild west characters such as Billy the Kid and lawman Dan Tucker; and
WHEREAS, Grant county is where, in 1866, company B of the one-hundred-twenty-fifth United States colored infantry established Fort Bayard; and
WHEREAS, Grant county is honored as the home of many veterans, including members of New Mexico's two-hundredth coast artillery regiment, many of whom were subjected to the Bataan death march, including the late Representative Tom Foy; and
WHEREAS, Grant county straddles the Continental Divide trail, a national scenic trail, at six thousand to seven thousand feet, providing cool summers, as well as uninterrupted views of the Mexican border to the south; and
WHEREAS, Grant county hosts the annual tour of the Gila, New Mexico's premier cycling stage race, which attracts national and international teams and boosts awareness and use of the trail of the Mountain Spirits national scenic byway; and
WHEREAS, Grant county has many well-known festivals, including the blues festival, clay festival, festival of the written word and the Southwest print fiesta; and
WHEREAS, Grant county prospectors have celebrated "Grant County Day" in Santa Fe for over forty years; and
WHEREAS, Grant county recognizes Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales of Grant county and wishes him success in his new position;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that January 30, 2019 be proclaimed "Grant County Day" in the legislature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the great people and great places of Grant county be recognized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the board of county commissioners of Grant county.
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