Rep. Huizenga offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 74.

A resolution celebrating April 19, 2007, as Dutch-American Friendship Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, On April 19, 1782, 225 years ago, in the city of the Hague, the Ambassadorial credentials of John Adams were officially recognized by Prince William V of Orange and the States-General, thus establishing formal diplomatic ties between the new government of the United States and the Republic of the Netherlands; and

Whereas, The historical ties between the Dutch and American people go back nearly 200 years earlier to the period when the Pilgrims resided for almost 11 years in the Netherlands before sailing to the new world; and

Whereas, The diplomatic ties between the governments of the United States and the Netherlands are the longest continuous ties between the United States and any country of the world; and

Whereas, The Dutch contribution to the American melting pot has played such a significant role in the life of America as exemplified by Presidents Martin Van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt; and

Whereas, The bonds of friendship linking the Dutch and American people continue to grow in strength and affection; and

Whereas, The heritage of this friendship between these people serves as a laudable example for the kinds of relations that should link all the peoples of the earth and should be properly extolled; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the members of this legislative body celebrate April 19, 2007, as Dutch-American Friendship Day in the state of Michigan. We commemorate the historic ties between the United States and the Netherlands.