LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 25th Annual William Henry
Seward Birthday Celebration in the Village of Florida, New York, on May
14, 2016

WHEREAS, New York State has long been the birthplace and home to great
historical figures, men and women who, through their great personal and
professional achievements, have furthered the causes of humanity,
government, education, medicine, social reform and science; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 25th Annual William Henry Seward Birthday Celebration in the
Village of Florida, New York, feted on Saturday, May 14, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-five years ago, Gary Randall, the President of the
Florida Historical Society, called for a gathering of about 10 local
residents interested in preserving, protecting, and presenting local
history; and
WHEREAS, John Kimieclk, a lifelong Florida resident, a member of the
Historical Society, a Seward family historian, and teacher at S.S.
Seward Institute, suggested the first William Henry Seward Birthday
Celebration; for the last 25 years, this event has been held close to
May 16th, which is William's birthday; and
WHEREAS, At that inaugural celebration, a myriad of events were held
to recognize this important man's birthday, such as a wreath laying
ceremony, the dedication of a bust of William Henry Seward, designed by
Daniel Chester French, and guest speakers offered recollections of the
early 20th Century development of the Village of Florida; and
WHEREAS, Under the direction of Diane Leo, a teacher at Golden Elemen-
tary, fourth grade students performed skits and sang the Seward Song, a
tradition which continues today; since 2001, Mark Stewart's seventh
grade class have been participating in different ways, emphasizing the
accomplishments of William Henry Seward and sharing interesting informa-
tion about his family; and
WHEREAS, This year's festivities included a post card history presen-
tation depicting the changes to the community through the years, and a
photo display of the Seward Monument and Veterans Memorial, the Village
Hall, the cemetery, the Florida Fire Department, and the building where
William Henry Seward was born; and
WHEREAS, In addition, books on history were donated to the Florida
Public Library and the Florida Public Schools, and some of the members
of the Florida Historical Society dressed in clothing reflecting the
second half of the 19th Century; and
WHEREAS, After searching through books, the young historians at Golden
Hill Elementary and S.S. Seward Institute adopted a persona and became
an expert in the Village of Florida history for the year they chose; the
presentation covered the years 1703 to 1902; and
WHEREAS, William Henry Seward was born in Florida on May 16, 1801, and
died in Auburn, New York, on October 12, 1872, where he spent much of
his adult life; and
WHEREAS, William Henry Seward made a monumental impact in the histo-
ries of not only Orange county, but New York State and the entire coun-
try, serving in numerous leadership capacities such as New York Senator,
New York Governor, United States Senator and Secretary of State for both
the Lincoln and Johnson administrations; and
WHEREAS, Sympathetic to the plights of runaway slaves, William Henry
Seward offered his home in Auburn as a stop on the Underground Railroad,
where he hid slaves on their way to Canada; and

WHEREAS, In 1867, William Henry Seward acquired Alaska for the United
States from Russia; through the years he tried in vain to purchase
Hawaii and the Dutch West Indies, as well as build a canal in Panama;
all of which came to fruition long after his death; and
WHEREAS, After a failed presidential bid in 1860, William Henry Seward
served as President Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State; in this capac-
ity, he was instrumental in the passage of the Emancipation Proclama-
tion; and
WHEREAS, Bound to his roots, William Henry Seward was a vital part of
the S.S. Seward Institute in Florida, New York, a school which his
father had founded in 1846; and
WHEREAS, William Henry Seward will forever be remembered for his
achievements in office, and for his foresight in anticipating the future
needs of the United States; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of those organizations which seek to bring recognition to
esteemed historical figures who lived in the State of New York, and in
doing so, help to ensure that the complete history of our State and
Nation is preserved and shared with present generations of citizens; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for William Henry Seward, and for all of
the individuals who have worked to bring proper attention to an individ-
ual and time which merits recognition in the grand panorama of the
history of our State and Nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 25th Annual William Henry Seward Birthday Celebration in
the Village of Florida, New York, on May 14, 2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Florida Historical Society.