Sunday, June 29, 2003

20030629 Westminster Mayor's Proclamation for Corbit's Charge Day, June 29, 2003

MAYOR’S PROCLAMATION

Corbit’s Charge Day, June 29, 2003

WHEREAS, from 1861 to 1865, our nation fought in a Civil War to rid our nation of the scourge of slavery. Westminster, although a divided community, came together to see our community through the horrors of war, and played a role in the successful outcome of the war, thereby affecting the course of history for our great nation; and

WHEREAS, Captain Charles Corbit led Companies C and D, First Delaware Cavalry, in a skirmish against General J.E.B. Stuart’s Cavalry Division on June 29, 1863 in Westminster, Maryland; which was a factor in General Stuart’s failure to reach the Gettysburg Battlefield before July 2, 1863; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster applaud the humanitarian efforts of Westminster’s citizens, who selflessly came together to the aid of the casualties of both Armies engaged in the conflict; and

WHEREAS, the end result of the American Civil War was that these United States became THE United States as the American Civil War helped to define our identify as a nation. The penalty for our sins, as a nation for allowing the scourge of slavery, was The American Civil War – but The Good Lord had a plan as providence saw through these terrible events in our great nation and our great community to accomplish great things; and

WHEREAS, The Mayor and Common Council of Westminster wish to commemorate the 140^th Anniversary of Corbit’s Charge and pay homage to the bravery of the soldiers, from the North and the South and to our community’s citizens, who came together in the face of hardship and adversity.

NOW, THEREFORE, let it be known that I, Mayor Kevin E. Dayhoff, do hereby declare Sunday, June 29, 2003 in Westminster, Maryland as: