Pilgrim Progress March
If voted into law," said George Garmany, GSMD 2020 Chair, "all fifty state societies will receive proceeds for educational programs about the Mayflower Pilgrims.
Plymouth, MA (PRWEB) June 09, 2016
A national effort has been launched by General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) members in all 50 states to obtain a U.S. Mint coin to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims landing in America. On Flag Day, twenty descendants of the Pilgrims from fifteen states will lobby Congress in period costume.
“The rule for getting a U.S. coin bill passed requires 2/3 of both legislative bodies to sign on as co-sponsors before it can be voted on,” said GSMD Governor General Lea Sinclair Filson. “Our hope is that when our elected officials see Pilgrim descendants dressed in the style of their 1620 ancestors, it will remind them of the importance of keeping this important American story alive.”
The non-partisan bills were introduced in the House by Congressman Bill Foster, Democrat, IL 11th Congressional District and in the Senate by Senior Senator John Hoeven, Republican, SD. No taxpayer money is used for the U.S. Mint Coin program.
“Passing our GSMD Mayflower coin bill has an important purpose,” said George Garmany, Chair of the GSMD 2020 Committee. “If voted into law, all fifty state societies will receive proceeds for educational programs about the Pilgrims. The society will also make donations to both the Wampanoag Tribe and to designated non-profit organizations in the city of Plymouth, MA where the Pilgrims founded their colony.”
The Mayflower Pilgrims wrote a compact before coming ashore that outlined a system of self-governance that later influenced the U.S. Constitution. A rare accomplishment, they maintained a 54-year peace with the neighboring Native Americans. A three-day feast and celebration with the Wampanoag Tribe after the first harvest is the basis of the great American Thanksgiving holiday.
Over ten million Americans are descended from the Mayflower Pilgrims. Since 1897 the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD) has approved lineage to the Pilgrims for over 90,000 applicants to join its member organization. The society also actively works to educate the public about the Pilgrims and their influence on Western civilization.
Photo and interview opportunities available to press throughout the day.
Flag Day (June 14, 2016) Schedule:
9:00 a.m. – Mayflower Pilgrim descendants gather adjacent to House Triangle
(Corners of Independence and New Jersey Avenue SE)
9:30 a.m. – Pilgrims descendants walk to Capitol and enter House Gallery
11:30 a.m. - News Conference adjacent to House Triangle
(Corners of Independence and New Jersey Avenue SE)
Highlights:
- Historic information about the Mayflower pilgrims
- Mayflower Compact will be read and descendants of each Mayflower Pilgrim will be recognized
- Interviews available to press
- Over fifty co-sponsors of the bill have been invited
Noon – 5:00 pm – Lobby efforts in House of Representatives and U.S. Senate
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About The Mayflower Society
Founded in 1897, The Mayflower Society, or General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with national headquarters in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Membership requires proof of lineage from one of the passengers who travelled to America on the Mayflower in 1620. Its mission is two-fold: to educate the public about the importance the Pilgrims had on Western civilization; and to maintain the highest standards possible for genealogy research on the lineage of the Pilgrims. The Society operates a genealogy research library at its Plymouth, MA headquarters and publishes the GSMD Silver Books, a series of genealogy books on lineage of the Mayflower passengers; the Mayflower Quarterly Magazine; and The Mayflower Journal. It also operates and offers tours of the historic Mayflower Society House in downtown Plymouth.
Website: http://www.TheMayflowerSociety.org
Facebook: facebook.com/themayflowersociety
Twitter: twitter.com/gsmd
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YouTube.com: youtube.com/user/mayflowersociety