Public Law 95–229

Joint Resolution

To provide for the striking of a national medal to commemorate the bicentennial of an outstanding historic event or personality during 1777.

Whereas the Bicentennial of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America has been commemorated with the breadth and dignity befitting the American diversity, and

Whereas the Bicentennial celebration during 1976 saw the majority of our citizens participate in activities which helped to improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in thousands of communities across this nation while each were brushed with a sense of our past, our history, and

Whereas the Bicentennial year has given us great impetus to continue our historical review as we realize that the signing of the Declaration of Independence was only the beginning of our struggle to become a nation, and

Whereas it was the ratification of the Constitution and the inaugural of our first President the following year that truly signaled the beginning of our success under the great American experiment, and

Whereas the Members of the Congress of the United States of America recognize that from the careful study and commemoration of past events and writings can we have a better understanding to make sound judgments affecting our future, and

Whereas the Congress of the United States assembled in the United States Capitol Building stands as a working and living symbol of our Republic, the oldest continuously democratic form of government in history, and

Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society represents all Americans through their duly elected Representatives who themselves are members of the Society, and

Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society was founded in 1962 with the express purpose to encourage an understanding by the people of the founding, growth and significance of the Capitol of the United States as a tangible symbol of their free representative government, and

Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society has historically undertaken scholarly research, citizen study of the Constitution of the United States and other significant contributions to art, restoration, publication and film without appropriated funds to promote an understanding of the richness and inspiration of our history, and

Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society seeks to foster and increase an informed patriotism of the land in the study of those historic events and personalities who contributed to the founding of the Nation and our Constitution form of government, and

Whereas the United States Capitol Historical Society recognizes the need to promote greater awareness of the events which led to the adoption of the Articles of Confederation, our first effort at governing our Republic, the intervening struggle for independence and finally the adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America, and

Whereas it is recognized that one means to generate a greater awareness of the events and personalities who helped form our national fabric is to commemorate these events and personalities on medals to be struck by the Secretary of the Treasury and made available for purchase by the citizenry; Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Approved February 14, 1978.