Whereas, preservation and administration of the Suwannee River in Georgia and Florida as part of the of the Wild-scenic Rivers System was placed for study and consideration as proscribed in Public Law 90-542, dated October 2, 1968, and Whereas, deadline for decision as to disposition of the Suwannee's status is October 2, 1970, and Whereas, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., representing more than 30,000 members, has long been active in conservation and strongly favors keeping the Suwannee River as part of the National Wild-scenic Rivers System, now therefore be it. Resolved, that the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., meeting in regu lar session April 15-16, 1970, respectfully petitions President Richard M. Nixon; Secretary of the Interior Walter Hickel; Mr. Roy K. Wood of the Atlanta Office of the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation; Governor Claude R. Kirk, Jr.; Governor Lester G. Maddox; Representative Don Fuqua, and other influential members of the Florida and Georgia Congressional Delegations to take appropriate action to effect designation of the Suwannee Wild-scenic River by October 2, 1970, and be it further Resolved, that a copy of this resolution be sent to all interested individuals. MRS. MAURICE S. DILLINGHAM, President. MRS. WILLIAM B. LEMONS, Resolutions. MRS. JOHN KRESSMAN. Whereas, the encouragement of additional park areas is of continuing interest to the members of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., and Whereas, the Thomas Creek area, located in northern Duval County, Florida, within the city limits of Jacksonville, is the site of the southernmost battle of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Thomas Creek, fought on May 17, 1777, and Whereas, this area, with terrain which includes forests, hammocks, swamps, marshes, creeks and considerable wildlife remains virtually untouched and little different today from what it was in 1777, and Whereas, a bill, H.R. 12424. has recently been introduced to the United States Congress, urging the designation of this area as a national park, be it therefore Resolved, that the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc. support and promote this move to set aside the Thomas Creek area for purposes of protecting its historical aspects, preserving the wildlife therein, and providing further recreational area for the public, and be it further Resolved, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the originator of this move, the Hon. Charles E. Bennett; Chairman of the House Interior and Insular Affairs Committee Wayne Aspinall; to Florida Senators Edward Gurney and Spessard Holland and to all Florida members of the House of Representatives. MRS. MAURICE S. DILLINGHAM, President, MRS. HUGH SIMMONS. RESOLUTION 1 Whereas, Demands of a growing population encroach upon the nation's shrinking supply of native timberlands and wilderness, and Whereas, The Jacksonville-Duval Area Planning Board has cautioned that the community is deficient in its regional park areas and that, furthermore, there is a need to preserve the historic lands of the area, and Whereas, The year 1976 will mark the 200th anniversary of our nation's War of Independence, calling attention to the fact that the southernmost battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Thomas Creek, occurred on May 17, 1777, near the junction of Thomas Creek and Nassau River which is within the city limits of Jacksonville, Florida, and Whereas, The whole area is a beautifully wooded wilderness virtually untouched and abounding in wildlife, yet it is easily accessible, being located immediately adjacent to the new Interstate Highway 95, and Whereas, The preservation of this region would add to the nation's shrines and become a place of educational importance where school children could experi ence the excitement of America's struggle to become a nation, therefore Be it resolved that legislation be passed to create the American Revolution's Southernmost Battlefields National Park in this northeastern section of Duval County, Florida. (H.R. 12424 is the bill to accomplish this.) EVE HEANEY. Recording Secretary. RESOLUTION 2 Whereas, there has been proposed the reservation of a wilderness area to include the site of a Revolutionary War skirmish located in the vicinity of Thomas Creek in the northern part of Duval County; and Whereas, the Jacksonville-Duval Area Planning Board is agreeable to and would most certainly concur in most instances in the establishment of a publie park or other reservation in an area both of historic importance and natural beauty; It is, therefore, resolved that the Board go on record as favoring the reservation of a wilderness area in the vicinity of the Revolutionary skirmish in north Duval County conditionally as follows: Provided, that the reservation of a wilderness area in this vicinity will in no wise impair the effort to conserve the marshland areas in the eastern part of the county, which the Board believes to be of importance to the ecology of Northeast Florida; and Provided, that funds are available for the purchase of lands which are not now publicly owned. RESOLUTION 3 Whereas, the southernmost battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Thomas Creek, occurred on May 17, 1777, near the junction of Thomas Creek and Nassau River in Northeastern Florida, and immediately adjacent to the newly constructed Interstate Highway 95, and Whereas, the site is in a beautifully wooded wildneress type area with marshes and numerous streams untouched by human encroachments and abounding in deer, turkey and other wildlife, and Whereas, there has been proposed the reservation of this wilderness area for an historic park and wildlife preservation project, and Whereas, the Board has recognized the value of preserving such virgin land for the community as well as the need to eliminate Jacksonville's current 555 acre regional park deficiency (projected to increase to 4,160 acres by 1990), and Whereas, said proposal will implement a part of the Board's Open Space plan; therefore Be it resolved by the Jacksonville-Duval Area Planning Board that it hereby endorses the creation of a National Park facility at the Thomas Creek site, with historic interpretive facilities and conserving there the wildlife and natural beauty for future generations to enjoy. Certificate I, Marvin C. Hill, do certify that the above resolution was duly passed by the Jacksonville-Duval Area Planning Board at its regular meeting held on January 5, 1970, and that it is of record in the official minutes of the meeting. MARVIN C. HILL, RESOLUTION 4 Whereas, the southernmost battle of the American Revolution, the Battle of Thomas Creek, occurred on May 17, 1777, near the junction of Thomas Creek and Nassau River in Northeastern Florida, and immediately adjacent to the newly constructed Interstate Highway 95, and Whereas, the site is in a beautifully wooded wilderness type area with marshes and numerous streams untouched by human encroachments and abounding in deer, turkey and other wildlife, and Whereas, there has been proposed the reservation of this wilderness area for an historic park and wildlife preservation project, and Whereas, the Board has recognized the value of preserving such virgin land for the community as well as the need to eliminate Jacksonville's current 555 acre regional park deficiency (projected to increase to 4,160 acres by 1990), and Whereas, said proposal will implement a part of the Board's Open Space plan; therefore Be it resolved by the Jacksonville-Duval Area Planning Board that it hereby endorses the creation of a National Park facility at the Thomas Creek site, with historic interpretive facilities and conserving there the wildlife and natural beauty for future generations to enjoy. Certificate I, James N. Watson, do certify that the above resolution was duly passed by the Advisory Committee of the Jacksonville-Duval Area Planning Board at its regular meeting held on February 4, 1970, and that it is of record in the official minutes of the meeting. JAMES N. WATSON. Introduced by Councilman Lanahan at the Request of the Mayor RESOLUTION-70-42-2 A Resolution Approving Establishment of a National Park Facility in the Thomas Creek Area of the City of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida; Providing an Effective Date Whereas, the City of Jacksonville has been advised that the United States of America is considering the establishment of a national park facility in the Thomas Creek area of the City of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, and Whereas, the City of Jacksonville recognizes the need for additional park facilities within the City of Jacksonville, now therefore Be it Resolved by the Council of the City of Jacksonville that the City of Jacksonville does hereby approve the establishment of a national park facility in the Thomas Creek area of the city of Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, and does hereby request the United States of America to proceed with the establishment of such park facility. This resolution shall become effective upon being signed by the Mayor or upon becoming effective without the Mayor's signature. Form approved: PAUL C. DOYL. RESOLUTION-70-42-2 Certificate of Authentication Declared an emergency measure and adopted by the city council January 13, 1970, approved January 14, 1970. Attest: HANS G. TANZLER, Jr., Mayor. DAVID C. MACMAMARA, Secretary of the City Council. RESOLUTION RE H.R. 12424 House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Suite 1324, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. Whereas a most unusual opportunity has arisen to combine historical memory with conservation and recreation in keeping with the President's “open spaces” program, and Whereas the Jacksonville area was the Southern terminus of three forgotten campaigns of the American Revolution which are known only to the most scholarly historians, and Whereas the Battle of Thomas Creek on May 19, 1777, was actually fought within the present city limits of Jacksonville on wild land which is still in a condition not unlike what it was in Revolutionary times, and Whereas the Thomas Creek action was central to the fighting of all three campaigns which penetrated Duval and Nassau Counties, in an effort to thwart the British invasion of all the Southern States from their bases in East Florida, and Whereas the opening of Interstate Highway 95 also opens up a substantial area of land which is largely government property, and thus affords a rare op portunity for conservation of natural resources and wildlife as well as provision for recreation near a great city on a great tourist artery, and Whereas the creation of a National Park in this vicinity would accomplish all these aims and thus bring new concepts to the millions who will pass this way from all parts of the nation, Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Board of County Commissioners of Duval County, Florida, hereby requests the Congress of the United States to create The Revolution's Southernmost Battlefields NATIONAL PARK at the Thomas Creek site, Jacksonville, Florida, not only to honor the brave men who died here for American freedom, but to preserve the natural beauty and wildlife for future generations to enjoy. Respectfully submitted. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, RESOLUTION RE H.R. 12424 Duval County, Fla. No. 1 House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Suite 1324, House of Representatives Whereas it is now national policy to establish more "Open Spaces" while the land is still available; and it is also national policy to observe the Bicentennial of the American Revolution in such a way that the sacrifices of our forebears will be forever remembered, and Whereas the creation of the "Revolution's Southernmost Battlefields National Park" within the city limits of Jacksonville, Florida, will not only mark the May 17, 1777, battlefield of Thomas Creek but will honor three desperate campaigns in the Northeastern Florida area, fought to free the 14th colony and to save the other Southern colonies from invasion forces based in Florida, and Whereas this National Park would open up a large area of beautifully wooded. wilderness-type land which has only recently been made accessible for the first time by the building of Interstate Highway 95; and would therefore create an invaluable recreational area, as well as preserve marshes and streams which are still abounding in deer, turkey and other wildlife for conservation purposes, and Whereas such a National Park would not only commemorate the part played by Florida as a battleground in the American Revolution, although it has been completely neglected by historians, but would focus attention on the part the whole South took in the fight for American Freedom, Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the National Society. Sons of the Amer ican Revolution, hereby requests the Congress of the United States to create a National Park facility at the Thomas Creek Battlefield site to honor the Reva Intion's Southernmost Battlefields. and at the same time to conserve wild life and natural beauty for future generations of Americans to enjoy. Respectfully submitted, THE NATIONAL SOCIETY, SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, To the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, Suite 1324, THE REVOLUTION'S SOUTHERN MOST BATTLE FIELDS PARK Whereas few Floridians and almost no one outside of the state are aware that Florida was a staging area for British invasions of the Southern colonies during the American Revolution; and that three costly patriot expeditions had to be sent into Florida as defensive measures, and Whereas most of these Revolutionary battlefields were hidden in swamps until the opening of Interstate Highway 95 opened up access to the Battlefield of Thomas Creek on wild government land within the city limits of Jacksonville, thus revealing the type of terrain in which all these actions were fought, and Whereas no more fitting way to observe the Bicentennial of the American Revolution in 1976 could be found than to convert this battlefield into a National Park for the benefit of the millions who will be coming this way from all parts of the nation, and Whereas such a National Park would not only memorialize the brave men who struggled here, but would preserve the natural beauty of this wilderness area whose marshes and streams will maintain the "open spaces" which are now a part of our national policy, Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the Daytona-Ormond Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, 326 So. Grandview Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida, hereby requests the Congress of the United States to declare the Thomas Creeks Battlefield site of May 17, 1777, a National Park . . . not only with proper historical markers but with recreational features which will conserve this wildlife area within the city of Jacksonville. Respectfully submitted, DAYTONA-ORMOND CHAPTER, SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. RESOLUTION RE H.R. 12424 House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Whereas history has largely neglected three desperate campaigns of the American Revolution in Northeastern Florida, to protect the southern flank against invasion by Tory refugees, Indians and British regulars, and Whereas the Battle of Thomas Creek on May 17, 1777, was fought on land now made accessible by Highway 95 north of Jacksonville near the junction of Thomas Creek and Nassau River, and Whereas the approaching 200th anniversary of the American Revolution will make those great events doubly interesting to the millions of Americans who will be travelling this way, and Whereas a National Park in this well-travelled area would be not only of immense recreational value but would preserve a beautifully wooded, wilderness area, with unpolluted marshes and streams abounding in deer, turkey and other wildlife, and Whereas there is vital need to let the nation know how much the South suffered to make ultimate victory possible. Now Therefore Be It Resolved that the St. Petersburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, hereby request the Congress of the United States to create a National Park facility at the Thomas Creek site. with historical interpretive facilities, and conserving there the wildlife and natural beauty for future generations of Americans to enjoy. Respectfully submitted, ST. PETERSBURG CHAPTER, SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. RESOLUTION RE H.R. 12424 House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Whereas few residents of Florida are aware that their state was a theatre of war during the American Revolution, and |