For Immediate Release
March 17, 2010
Contact: Nathan Flood
717-787-4420
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A Conversation with Senator Brubaker

PA Charter Day Celebrates Pennsylvania History

Each year on the second Sunday in March, we commemorate the founding of Pennsylvania by celebrating Pennsylvania Charter Day. The establishment of Pennsylvania was an historic event, and the basic principles on which our state was created would ultimately play an important role in the events that led to American independence.

William Penn first secured a charter for this tract of land in March of 1681. Penn, a Quaker and a pacifist, requested a charter to establish a colony based on religious freedom and equality. The charter originally required Penn to deliver one-fifth of all gold, silver, precious stones and a pair of beaver skins annually to King Charles II. In exchange, Penn and his colonists would have control over the land, waterways and natural resources established in the charter, and they would have the freedom to practice their religion without fear of the physical abuse, fines and imprisonment that followers feared in England.

The Pennsylvania colony was among the first to offer freedom of religion and expanded rights to citizens. The colony’s Frame of Government guaranteed a right to a trial by jury, freedom of religion and an amendment process to change existing laws. These ideals eventually became part of the U.S. Constitution.

Penn served as the proprietor of the colony until he was debilitated by a stroke in 1712. Benjamin Franklin and other political allies petitioned the King to abolish the proprietorship in the 1760s, and the subsequent revision of colonial policies led to the grievances that served as a catalyst for the American Revolutionary War.

While the charter was nullified shortly after the United States won independence from England, the original Pennsylvania Charter document still exists today. The four-page parchment document is kept at the State Archives in Harrisburg and is displayed on special occasions. I would encourage any district resident with an interest in Pennsylvania history to contact the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission online at www.phmc.state.pa.us or by calling (717) 787-3362 to find out when the Pennsylvania Charter will be available for public viewing.  

Nominations Will Be Accepted for Boy Scouts National Hall of Leadership

The Boy Scouts of America help to teach the vital leadership skills and virtues that young people need to become a positive influence in their community. Former and current members of the Boy Scouts are urged to recognize a Scouting leader who positively impacted their life by nominating that individual to be a member of the BSA 100th Anniversary National Hall of Leadership.

Nominations must be submitted by April 2 to be considered. This one-time opportunity to recognize individuals for their leadership is open to all current and former BSA members. To be eligible, nominees must have served as an active Scout or Scouting volunteer for at least one year.

One nominee will be selected from each local BSA council in the country along with one nominee from the national office to be inducted into the National Hall of Leadership. Inductees will be announced at the National Jamboree 2010 in Virginia. The top 12 local candidates will also be inducted into the Pennsylvania Dutch Council Hall of leadership. The induction for local candidates will take place on June 16.