WHEREAS, on July 26, 1819, the citizens of Maine voted decisively in support of Maine separating from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and becoming an independent state; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress received Maine’s petition for statehood and voted affirmatively to accept Maine as the 23rd State of the United States; and

WHEREAS, U.S. Secretary of State James Monroe notified Maine that it would formally and legally be an independent state beginning on March 15, 1820; and

WHEREAS, March 15, 2024 marks the 204th anniversary of the achievement of Maine statehood; and

WHEREAS, it is important to recognize that our collective history goes much further back long before statehood to the Wabanaki people who first hunted, farmed, fished and occupied much of the land that we call our home; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with 1 MRS § 116, the State designates March 15th of each year as Maine Statehood Day;

NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the State of Maine, do hereby proclaim March 15, 2024 as

Maine Statehood Day

throughout the State of Maine, and I encourage all citizens to mark the occasion in reflection, appreciation, and resolve.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this twenty eighth day of February Two Thousand Twenty-Four