WHEREAS, the State of Maine has long been a haven for writers, musicians, painters, sculptors, poets, dancers, folk artists, culinary artists, and creative thinkers of all kinds; and

WHEREAS, Maine enjoys a worldwide reputation for the quality, quantity, and variety of its cultural community; and

WHEREAS, Maine features a broad and significant array of historic and architecturally significant structures; and

WHEREAS, Maine and the world benefit economically, intellectually, and emotionally because of the existence, practices, and contributions of our cultural community; and

WHEREAS, Maine’s culture today includes the contributions and resilience of the Wabanaki tribes who first hunted, farmed, fished and occupied much of the land that we call our home; and

WHEREAS, Maine appreciates the heightened quality of life that results from a vibrant cultural community; and

WHEREAS, in accordance with 1 MRS § 118, the State designates the week containing Statehood Day, March 15th, as Maine Cultural Heritage Week;

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

Maine Cultural Heritage Week

and encourage all Maine citizens to observe and appreciate appropriately the richness of our cultural community and the many gains we receive thereby.

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