SCR 62, as introduced, Mendoza. Portugal Day.
This act would declare June 10, 2015, as Portugal Day to celebrate Portuguese national heritage.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, In September of 1542, Portuguese explorer João
2Rodrigues Cabrillo sailed a ship into San Diego Bay, becoming
3the first European to explore the land now known as California.
4Cabrillo explored the California coast, and is credited with
5numerous coastal discoveries; and
6WHEREAS, In 1870, Portuguese immigrants began arriving in
7the United States in relatively large numbers. The majority of these
8Portuguese immigrants were men from the Azores, who were
9primarily recruited to work on American whaling ships and to
10farm; and
11WHEREAS, Between 1900 and 1940, as much as one-half of
12the Portuguese community in California owned or operated a dairy
13farm, worked on a dairy farm, or worked in a dairy-supporting
14industry. Applying the Portuguese belief in hard work and
15thriftiness, along with additional labor from family members, a
16Portuguese settler could earn enough to reinvest in his business,
17buying land and more dairy cows; and
18WHEREAS, Among the great Portuguese Americans who have
19contributed significantly to this country are: composer John Philip
P2 1Sousa, best known for composing “Stars and Stripes Forever”;
2poet Emma Lazarus, best known for her sonnet about the Statue
3of Liberty, “The New Colossus”; architect William L. Pereira, best
4known for designing the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco;
5and singer and actress Carmen Miranda. Many Portuguese
6Americans have also served with distinction in local, state, and
7federal office; and
8WHEREAS, Portuguese Americans have truly made valuable
9and substantial contributions to every facet of California life.
10Portuguese Americans continue to thrive in agricultural
11communities of the Santa Clara and San Joaquin Valleys. Today,
12over 350,000 Portuguese Americans reside in California.; and
13WHEREAS, Portuguese national literary icon Luís de Camões
14wrote Portugal’s national epic poem, Os Lusíadas, celebrating the
1515th-century Portuguese explorations which brought fame and
16fortune to the country. The poem, considered one of the finest and
17most important works in Portuguese literature, became a symbol
18for the great feats of the Portuguese Empire; and
19WHEREAS, Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades
20Portuguesas, translated as “Day of Portugal, Camões, and the
21Portuguese Communities,” commemorates the death of Luís de
22Camões on June 10, 1580; now, therefore, be it
23Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
24thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares June 10,
252015, as Portugal Day, a day to celebrate Portuguese national
26heritage; and be it further
27Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
28this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
99