Sec. 10-29a. Certain days, weeks and months to be proclaimed by Governor. Distribution and number of proclamations.
Sec. 10-29a. Certain days, weeks and months to be proclaimed by Governor.
Distribution and number of proclamations. (a)(1) Martin Luther King Day. The
Governor shall proclaim the fifteenth day of January of each year prior to 1986, and
commencing on the twentieth day of January in 1986, the first Monday occurring on or
after January fifteenth of each year, to be Martin Luther King Day, and the last school
day before such day shall be suitably observed in the public schools of the state as a
day honoring Martin Luther King for his selfless devotion to the advancement of equality
and the preservation of human rights.
(2) Pan American Day. The Governor shall proclaim April fourteenth of each year
to be Pan American Day, which day shall be suitably observed in the public schools of
the state as a day honoring the Latin American republics, and shall otherwise be suitably
observed by such public exercises in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor
designates. If such schools are not in session on such day, Pan American Day shall be
observed in the schools on the school day next succeeding or on a succeeding day
designated by each local or regional board of education.
(3) Arbor Day. The last Friday of April in each year shall be observed in Connecticut as Arbor Day. The Governor shall annually designate this day with suitable proclamation or letter urging that on Arbor Day schools, civic organizations, governmental
departments and all citizens and groups give serious thought to, and mark by appropriate
exercises of a public nature, the value of trees and forests, the ornamentation of our
streets, highways and parks with trees; and the economic benefits to be derived from
well-cultivated orchards and forests.
(4) Loyalty Day. The Governor shall proclaim May first in each year to be Loyalty
Day, which day shall be set aside as a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the
United States of America and for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom;
and the flag of the United States shall be displayed on all state buildings on said day.
Said day shall be suitably observed in the public schools of the state.
(5) Senior Citizens Day. The Governor shall proclaim the first Sunday in May in
each year as Senior Citizens Day, in honor of the elderly citizens of the state and in
recognition of their continued contribution to the state and the enrichment of the lives
of all its citizens.
(6) Flag Day. The Governor shall, annually, designate by official proclamation or
letter the fourteenth day of June as Flag Day and suitable exercises, having reference
to the adoption of the national flag, shall be held in the public schools on the day so
designated or, if that day is not a school day, on the school day preceding, or on any
such other day as the local or regional board of education prescribes. On Flag Day
suitable instruction in the method of displaying the flag and in the respect due the flag
shall be given, based upon the flag code as adopted and revised by the National Flag
Conference.
(7) School Safety Patrol Day. The Governor shall proclaim the second Monday
in September of each year to be School Safety Patrol Day, which shall be suitably
observed in the public schools of the state with a program on highway safety to call
attention to the fine work of school safety patrols.
(8) Nathan Hale Day. The Governor shall proclaim September twenty-second of
each year to be Nathan Hale Day, which day shall be suitably observed in the public
schools of the state as a day honoring Nathan Hale for his selfless patriotism.
(9) Indian Day. The Governor shall proclaim the last Friday in September in each
year to be Indian Day, which day shall be suitably observed in the public schools of the
state as a day of commemoration of American Indians and their contribution to American
life and civilization.
(10) Puerto Rico Day. The Governor shall proclaim the fourth Sunday in September in each year as Puerto Rico Day to honor the contribution to the welfare of the state
made by persons of Puerto Rican ancestry, which day shall be suitably observed by such
public exercises in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates. Puerto
Rico Day shall be suitably observed in the public schools of the state on the school day
next succeeding the fourth Sunday in September or on such succeeding day as may be
designated by the local or regional board of education.
(11) Leif Erikson Day. The Governor shall proclaim a day within the first nine
days of October of each year to be Leif Erikson Day, which day shall be suitably observed
in all the public schools of the state as a day of commemoration of the Scandinavian
peoples and their culture and the great contribution they have made to this country in
the past and are now making, and also as a tribute to the gallant explorations of the
Vikings.
(12) Fire Prevention Day. The Governor shall, also, by proclamation or letter,
annually designate a day, on or about October ninth, to be known as Fire Prevention
Day, which day shall be observed in the schools and in such other way as is indicated
in such proclamation or letter.
(13) Columbus Day. The Governor shall proclaim the second Monday in October
of each year to be Columbus Day. Suitable exercises shall be held in the public schools,
having reference to the historical events connected therewith and in commemoration
of the Italian people, their culture and the great contribution they have made to this
country, such exercises to be held during the week within which Columbus Day occurs
or on such other day as the local or regional board of education prescribes.
(14) Veterans' Day. The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation or letter
calling for the observance of the eleventh day of November as Veterans' Day, in recognition of the service and sacrifice of the sons and daughters of Connecticut who served
in the naval and military service of the United States in time of war. Suitable exercises
shall be held in the public schools, having reference to the historical events connected
therewith, such exercises to be held during the week within which Veterans' Day occurs
or on any such other day as the local or regional board of education prescribes.
(15) St. Patrick's Day. The Governor shall proclaim March seventeenth of each
year to be St. Patrick's Day to honor the Irish people, their culture and the contribution
they have made to this state and country, which day shall be suitably observed by such
public exercises in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates.
(16) German-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim October sixth of each
year to be German-American Day to honor Americans of German ancestry, their culture
and the great contribution they have made to this country. Suitable exercises shall be
held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance
of the day.
(17) Friends Day. The Governor shall proclaim the fourth Sunday in April of each
year to be Friends Day in honor of the enduring value of friendship and in recognition
of the fundamental need, common to each member of our society, for a friend.
(18) Lithuanian Day. The Governor shall proclaim a date certain in each year as
Lithuanian Day to honor the contribution to the welfare of the state made by persons
of Lithuanian ancestry and to commemorate the culture of the Lithuanian people.
(19) Powered Flight Day. The Governor shall proclaim a date certain in each year
as Powered Flight Day to honor the first powered flight by the Wright brothers and to
commemorate the Connecticut aviation and aerospace industry.
(20) Ukrainian-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim August twenty-fourth of each year to be Ukrainian-American Day to honor Americans of Ukrainian
ancestry, their culture and the contribution they have made to this country. Suitable
exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates
for the observance of the day.
(21) Retired Teachers Day. The Governor shall proclaim the third Wednesday in
February in each year as Retired Teachers Day in honor of the retired teachers of the
state and in recognition of their contributions.
(22) End of World War II Day. The Governor shall proclaim August fourteenth
of each year as the day to commemorate the end of World War II. Suitable exercises
shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the
observance of the day.
(23) Remembrance Day. The Governor shall proclaim September eleventh of each
year as Remembrance Day, in memory of those who lost their lives or suffered injuries
in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and in honor of the service, sacrifice and
contributions of the firefighters, police officers and other personnel who responded to
such attacks. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the
Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(24) Workers' Memorial Day. The Governor shall proclaim April twenty-eighth
of each year to be Workers' Memorial Day to commemorate and to honor workers who
have died on the job in the state. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol
and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(25) Disability Awareness Day. The Governor shall proclaim July twenty-sixth of
each year to be Disability Awareness Day to heighten public awareness of the needs of
persons with disabilities. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(26) Volunteer Firefighter and Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Personnel Day. The Governor shall proclaim the first Saturday in August of each year to
be Volunteer Firefighter and Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Personnel Day in
recognition of the service, sacrifice and contributions of such volunteers to the public
health and safety. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as
the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(27) Women's Independence Day. The Governor shall proclaim August twenty-sixth of each year to be Women's Independence Day to commemorate the ratification
of the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States granting women
the right to vote. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as
the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(28) Destroyer Escort Day. The Governor shall proclaim the third Saturday in June
of each year as Destroyer Escort Day to commemorate and honor the service of destroyer
escort ships in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War and the sailors who
served on them. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as
the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(29) Iwo Jima Day. The Governor shall proclaim February twenty-third of each
year to be Iwo Jima Day to commemorate the raising of the American flag over the
battlefield at Iwo Jima. Suitable exercises may be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere
as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(30) Korean Armistice Day. The Governor shall proclaim July twenty-seventh of
each year to be Korean Armistice Day to commemorate the signing of the armistice
ending the Korean hostilities. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(31) Prudence Crandall Day. The Governor shall proclaim September third of
each year to be Prudence Crandall Day in honor of her birthday. Suitable exercises shall
be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance
of the day.
(32) Polish-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim May third of each year
to be Polish-American Day to honor Americans of Polish ancestry, their culture and the
contribution they have made to this country. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State
Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(33) Green Up Day. The Governor shall proclaim the last Saturday in April of each
year to be Green Up Day to encourage citizens to clean up their communities, to plant
trees and flowers and to otherwise enhance the physical beauty of the state's communities and countryside. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere
as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(34) Romanian-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim December first of
each year to be Romanian-American Day to honor Americans of Romanian ancestry,
their culture and the great contribution they have made to this country. Suitable exercises
shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the
observance of the day.
(35) Republic of China on Taiwan-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim
October tenth of each year to be Republic of China on Taiwan-American Day to honor
Americans of Chinese-Taiwanese ancestry, their culture and the great contribution they
have made to this country. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(36) Austrian-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim May fifteenth of each
year to be Austrian-American Day to honor Americans of Austrian ancestry, their culture
and the great contribution they have made to this country. Suitable exercises shall be
held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance
of the day.
(37) Greek-American Day. The Governor shall proclaim March twenty-fifth of
each year, the day that Greeks celebrate as Greek Independence Day, to be Greek-American Day to honor Americans of Greek ancestry, their culture and the great contribution they have made to this country. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State
Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(38) Hungarian Freedom Fighters Day. The Governor shall proclaim October
twenty-third of each year to be Hungarian Freedom Fighters Day to honor the bravery
of the Hungarian freedom fighters during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. Suitable
exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates
for the observance of the day.
(39) National Children's Day. The Governor shall proclaim the second Sunday
in October of each year to be National Children's Day. Suitable exercises shall be held
in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of
the day.
(40) Youth to Work Day. The Governor shall proclaim the second Wednesday of
February of each year to be Youth to Work Day to allow an adult to bring a youth to
work for the purpose of exposing such youth to the workplace. Suitable programs shall
be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance
of the day.
(41) Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Day. The Governor shall proclaim May twenty-fourth of each year to be Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Day to commemorate her valor
and to honor the commitment and dedication of teachers throughout the United States.
Suitable exercises may be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor
designates for the observance of the day.
(42) Gulf War Veterans Day. The Governor shall proclaim February twenty-eighth of each year to be Gulf War Veterans Day, in recognition of the service and
sacrifice of the sons and daughters of Connecticut who served in the military service of
the United States in the Persian Gulf War. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State
Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(43) Long Island Sound Day. The Governor shall proclaim the Friday before Memorial Day of each year to be Long Island Sound Day to encourage citizens to acknowledge and celebrate the economic, recreational and environmental values of the Sound.
Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor
designates for the observance of the day.
(44) A Week to Remember Persons who are Disabled or Shut-in. The Governor
shall proclaim the third week in May of each year to be "A Week to Remember Persons
who are Disabled or Shut-in". Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the week.
(45) Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Week. The Governor shall proclaim the first week in August of each year to be Firefighter and Emergency
Medical Services Personnel Week in recognition of the service, sacrifice and contributions of such personnel to the public health and safety. Suitable exercises shall be held
in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the
week.
(46) Family Day. The Governor shall proclaim the second Sunday in September
of each year to be Family Day. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(47) Connecticut Aviation Pioneer Day. The Governor shall proclaim May
twenty-fifth of each year to be Connecticut Aviation Pioneer Day to commemorate
and to honor Igor I. Sikorsky. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(48) Juneteenth Independence Day. The Governor shall proclaim the Saturday
that is closest to June nineteenth of each year to be Juneteenth Independence Day in
recognition of the formal emancipation of enslaved African-Americans pursuant to General Order No. 3 of June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. Suitable exercises shall be held
in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of
the day.
(49) Corsair Day. The Governor shall proclaim May twenty-ninth of each year to
be Corsair Day, to commemorate the first flight of the F4U Corsair and to honor the
achievement of Connecticut workers at United Aircraft, Pratt and Whitney, Hamilton
Standard and the Vought-Sikorsky companies in the production of the F4U Corsair, the
only major combat aircraft of World War II that was the product of a single state. Suitable
exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the Governor designates
for the observance of the day.
(50) Frederick Law Olmsted Day. The Governor shall proclaim April twenty-sixth of each year to be Frederick Law Olmsted Day to honor his legacy as the founder
of American landscape architecture. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol
and elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the day.
(51) Lung Cancer Awareness Month. The Governor shall proclaim the month of
November to be Lung Cancer Awareness Month to heighten public awareness of the
fact that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death of both men and women in the
United States. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the
Governor designates for the observance of the month.
(52) Woman-Owned Business Month. The Governor shall proclaim the month of
May to be Woman-Owned Business Month to honor the contribution that women-owned
businesses make to our state. Suitable exercises shall be held in the State Capitol and
elsewhere as the Governor designates for the observance of the month.
(b) Distribution and number of proclamations. The number of the Governor's
proclamations for the initial observance of a day under any subdivision of subsection
(a) of this section that are printed, handled and mailed shall be limited to the following:
(1) One copy of each proclamation issued by the Governor shall be distributed (A) to
each municipality, (B) to each school in each municipality, (C) to each public and private
institution of higher education and (D) to each public library. (2) One copy of those
proclamations declaring a day of fasting and prayer, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day shall be distributed to each church and synagogue in the state. The Governor
may issue either not more than one proclamation or not more than one letter to each
such entity to proclaim the subsequent observance of each such day.
(P.A. 78-218, S. 26; P.A. 83-11; P.A. 84-56, S. 1; 84-546, S. 21, 173; P.A. 85-219; 85-229; P.A. 87-53, S. 1; P.A. 89-15, S. 1; 89-20, S. 1, 2; 89-118, S. 3; P.A. 90-180; P.A. 91-44; 91-130, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-117, S. 1, 2; 93-281, S. 1; P.A. 94-75, S. 2, 3; 94-88; P.A. 95-25, S. 1, 2; 95-67; P.A. 96-45; 96-84, S. 1, 2; 96-155, S. 1; 96-244, S. 50, 63; P.A. 97-75; 97-77; 97-146, S. 1, 2; 97-288, S. 5, 6; P.A. 02-126, S. 8; P.A. 03-29, S. 1; 03-79, S. 1; P.A. 05-49, S. 2; 05-179, S. 1; P.A.
06-77, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 07-4, S. 67.)
History: P.A. 83-11 required the governor to proclaim March 17 of each year St. Patrick's Day to pay honor to the Irish
people; P.A. 84-56 amended Subsec. (a) to reflect date for observance of Martin Luther King Day under federal law and
added provisions re German-American Day and Friends Day as Subsecs. (p) and (q), relettering former Subsec. (p) as (r);
P.A. 84-546 made technical grammatical changes in Subsec. (c); P.A. 85-219 inserted new Subsec. (r) re Lithuanian Day
and P.A. 85-229 inserted new Subsec. (s) re Powered Flight Day, relettering former Subsec. (r) accordingly; P.A. 87-53
added new Subsec. (t) re proclamation of Ukrainian-American Day and relettered Subsec. (t) as Subsec. (u); P.A. 89-15
added new Subsec. re proclamation of Retired Teachers Day; P.A. 89-20 inserted new Subsec. requiring governor to
proclaim August fourteenth as day to commemorate end of World War II; P.A. 89-118 inserted new Subsec. re proclamation
of 911 Day, relettering Subsecs. as necessary; P.A. 90-180 inserted a new Subsec. (x) re proclamation of Workers' Memorial
Day and relettered former Subsec. (x) as Subsec. (y); P.A. 91-44 inserted new Subsec. re proclamation of Disability
Awareness Day and relettered former Subsec. (y) accordingly; P.A. 91-130 inserted new Subsecs. re proclamation of
Volunteer Forefighter and Volunteer Emergency Medical Services Personnel Day, and re Women's Independence Day,
and relettered former Subsec. (y) accordingly; P.A. 93-117 inserted new Subsec. (bb) re proclamation of Destroyer Escort
Day, relettered former Subsec. (bb) accordingly and authorized governor to issue letters to proclaim observance of any
day under this section after initial observance of the day, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-281 inserted new Subsec. (cc)
re proclamation of Iwo Jima Day, necessitating the relettering of newly created (cc) as (dd); P.A. 94-75 inserted new
Subsec. (dd) re proclamation of Korean Armistice Day and relettered former Subsec. (dd) accordingly, effective July 1,
1994; P.A. 94-88 amended Subsec. (t) by changing date of Ukrainian-American Day from January twenty-second to August
twenty-fourth, added new Subsec. (ee) re Prudence Crandall Day and relettered former Subsec. (dd) as (ff); P.A. 95-25
designated Subsecs. (a) to (ee), inclusive, as Subdivs. (1) to (31), inclusive, of Subsec. (a) and added Subdiv. (32) re
proclamation of Polish-American Day and designated Subsec. (ff) as Subsec. (b), effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-67 added
new Subdiv. (33) re Green Up Day; P.A. 96-45 added new Subdiv. in Subsec. (a), codified by the Revisors as (39), re
National Children's Day; P.A. 96-84 added Subdivs. (34) to (38), inclusive, in Subsec. (a) re Romanian-American Day,
Republic of China on Taiwan-American Day, Austrian-American Day, Greek-American Day and Hungarian Freedom
Fighters Day, effective May 8, 1996; P.A. 96-155 added new Subdiv. in Subsec. (a), codified by the Revisors as (40), re
Youth to Work Day; P.A. 96-244 added new Subdiv. in Subsec. (a), codified by the Revisors as (41), re Christa Corrigan
McAuliffe Day, effective June 6, 1996; P.A. 97-75 added Subsec. (a)(42) re Gulf War Veterans Day; P.A. 97-77 added
Subsec. (a)(43) re Long Island Sound Day; P.A. 97-146 added new Subdivs. (44) and (45) in Subsec. (a) re A Week to
Remember Persons who are Disabled or Shut-in and Firefighter and Emergency Medical Services Personnel Week, effective
June 13, 1997; P.A. 97-288 added new Subsec. (a)(46) re Family Day, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 02-126 amended Subsec.
(a)(23) by proclaiming September eleventh of each year as Remembrance Day in lieu of 911 Day, effective July 1, 2002;
P.A. 03-29 added Subsec. (a)(47) re Connecticut Aviation Pioneer Day, effective April 25, 2003; P.A. 03-79 added Subsec.
(a)(48) re Juneteenth Independence Day, effective June 3, 2003; P.A. 05-49 added Subsec. (a)(49) re Corsair Day, effective
May 9, 2005; P.A. 05-179 added Subsec. (a)(50) re Frederick Law Olmsted Day; P.A. 06-77 added Subsec. (a)(51) re
Lung Cancer Awareness Month (Revisor's note: Although when it was enacted Subdiv. (51) included the catchline "Lung
Cancer Awareness Month", the Revisors have treated that catchline as though they had added it editorially and it will
therefore be printed in boldface type for consistency with the other subdivision catchlines in this section); June Sp. Sess.
P.A. 07-4 added Subsec. (a)(52) re Woman-Owned Business Month, effective June 29, 2007.
See Sec. 46a-41 re White Cane Safety Day.