2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25104060D

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 494

Offered January 15, 2025

Commending the Historic St. John's Church.

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Patrons—Austin, Krizek, Arnold, Ballard, Batten, Bloxom, Campbell, Carr, Cherry, Clark, Cole, Cousins, Coyner, Davis, Earley, Ennis, Fowler, Garrett, Gilbert, Green, Griffin, Henson, Herring, Higgins, Hodges, Hope, Kent, Kilgore, Knight, Leftwich, McNamara, Milde, Morefield, O'Quinn, Oates, Obenshain, Orrock, Owen, Phillips, Rasoul, Runion, Scott, P.A., Sickles, Tata, Taylor, Wachsmann, Walker, Ware, Webert, Wiley, Williams, Wilt, Wright, Wyatt and Zehr; Senators: Diggs, McDougle, Reeves and Sturtevant

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WHEREAS, in 2025, the Historic St. John's Church in Richmond will work with the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission and other local partners to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly established the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission in 2020 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the formation of the United States as an independent nation; and

WHEREAS, Patrick Henry of Hanover County joined the House of Burgesses a few days before the Stamp Act crisis of 1765 and went on to become well known for his passionate oration in defense of the Virginia colonists' rights; and

WHEREAS, on March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivered his famous “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech to the Second Virginia Revolutionary Convention at the Historic St. John's Church, then known as the Henrico Parish Church; and

WHEREAS, Patrick Henry became known as the “voice of the American Revolution,” and the speech is credited with having helped to convince the members of the convention to pass a resolution delivering Virginian troops for the Revolutionary War; and

WHEREAS, at the time of the speech, Patrick Henry lived in Scotchtown in Hanover County; he was ultimately buried at Red Hill, his last home in Charlotte County; and

WHEREAS, on March 23, 2025, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission will join with the Historic St. John's Church to host a re-enactment of the speech on the site it was delivered and as close to the moment that it was delivered as historians can determine; and

WHEREAS, the events commemorating Patrick Henry's speech would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of the re-enactors, scholars, leaders, and volunteers at the Historic St. John's Church, who have gone above and beyond to preserve and promote the history and heritage of the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Historic St. John's Church for its work to honor the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry's “Give me liberty or give me death!” speech; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Historic St. John's Church as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the church's efforts to raise awareness of the life and achievements of the great Virginian statesman Patrick Henry and educate the public about the foundation of the United States.