AR 145

ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 145
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED JUNE 8, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� BRIAN E. RUMPF
District 9 (Ocean)
Assemblyman� GREGORY E. MYHRE
District 9 (Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Fantasia and Flynn
SYNOPSIS
���� Honors 250th anniversary of adoption of Declaration
of Independence and birth of this nation.�
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Assembly
Resolution honoring the 250th anniversary
of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and birth of this nation.
Whereas,
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of
Independence, which outlined the founding principles of the United States of
America and signaled a pivotal moment in the birth of this nation; and
Whereas,
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed �that all men are created equal,�
endowed �with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness�; and
Whereas,
New Jersey played an instrumental role in the fight for freedom during the
American Revolution; and
Whereas,
Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first public
reading of the document outside of Philadelphia was proudly held in Trenton on
July 8, 1776, as the State embraced the movement for independence; and
Whereas,
Two days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the
Provincial Congress of New Jersey met in Burlington, New Jersey and adopted the
first Constitution of the State of New Jersey, which established a framework
for representative government that would guide the newly independent State; and
Whereas,
The first Legislature faced the extraordinary challenge of establishing a
functioning government while the State served as a principal battleground of
the Revolutionary War, with legislators forced to relocate multiple times
between locations such as Princeton, Burlington, and Trenton to avoid British
occupation; and
Whereas,
The new, democratically elected State Government, not the King, maintained all
civilian authority over the State�s people, thereby creating a stable base in
which the Continental Army could operate; and
Whereas,
After retreating and reorganizing in Pennsylvania, General Washington led the
now-famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776, delivering
a resounding defeat to Hessian troops camped for the winter at Trenton and
shifting momentum to the patriot cause; and
Whereas,
Many lesser-known New Jerseyans also contributed in significant ways to the
American Revolution, including Mary Ludwig Hays who became the main inspiration
for the legend of �Molly Pitcher� after she carried a wounded soldier to safety
and took over her husband�s cannon when he became wounded, continuing to fire
at the enemy in the face of their advance at the Battle of Monmouth and enslaved
people like Samuel Sutphin and Prime who both fought in the Continental Army;
and
Whereas,
In June 1778, New Jersey was the site of the longest single day of fighting in
the war as the Continental Army deployed new training, weapons, and tactics at
the Battle of Monmouth, demonstrating an ability to match the British forces in
the field and marking the end of the British campaign for Philadelphia; and
Whereas,
This success at the Battle of Monmouth led General Washington to call for the
first federally recognized Independence Day, celebrated with canon fire and a
musket salute on the banks of the Raritan River near present day New Brunswick,
New Jersey on July 4, 1778; and
Whereas,
As American independence enters its 250th year and people across the country
and State begin to reflect on the pivotal moments and events surrounding the
birth of this nation through public celebrations, educational programs, and
initiatives such as Revolution New Jersey, it is fitting and proper for the
Legislature to recognize the rich history of this State in advancing the cause
of freedom in the face of tyranny; now, therefore,
���� Be It
Resolved by the General Assembly of the State
of New Jersey:
���� 1.� This House proudly
recognizes and celebrates the role of New Jersey and its people in the American
Revolution and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence and the birth of this nation.
���� 2. Copies of this resolution,
as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the
General Assembly to the President and Vice President of the United States, the
Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the
Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, each member of
Congress elected from this State, and the New Jersey Historical Commission.
STATEMENT
���� This resolution proudly
recognizes and celebrates the role of New Jersey and its people in the American
Revolution and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the
Declaration of Independence and the birth of this nation.
���� On July 4, 1776, the Second
Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which outlined
the founding principles of the United States of America and signaled a pivotal
moment in the birth of this nation.� The Declaration of Independence proclaimed
�that all men are created equal,� endowed �with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.�� Following
the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first public reading of the
document outside of Philadelphia was proudly held in Trenton on July 8, 1776,
as the State embraced the movement for independence.
���� New
Jersey played an instrumental role in the fight for freedom during the American
Revolution.� Two days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence,
the Provincial Congress of New Jersey met in Burlington, New Jersey and adopted
the first Constitution of the State of New Jersey, which established a
framework for representative government that would guide the newly independent
State.� The first Legislature faced the extraordinary challenge of establishing
a functioning government while the State served as a principal battleground of
the Revolutionary War, with legislators forced to relocate multiple times to
avoid British occupation. �The new, democratically elected State Government maintained
all civilian authority over the State�s people, thereby creating a stable base
in which the Continental Army could operate.
���� After retreating and
reorganizing in Pennsylvania, General Washington led the now-famous crossing of
the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776, delivering a resounding defeat to
Hessian troops camped for the winter at Trenton and shifting momentum to the
patriot cause.� Many lesser-known New Jerseyans also contributed in significant
ways to the American Revolution, including Mary Ludwig Hays who became the main
inspiration for the legend of �Molly Pitcher� and enslaved people, like Samuel
Sutphin and Prime who both fought in the Continental Army.�
���� In June 1778, New Jersey was
the site of the longest single day of fighting in the war as the Continental
Army deployed new training, weapons, and tactics at the Battle of Monmouth,
demonstrating an ability to match the British forces in the field and marking
the end of the British campaign for Philadelphia.� This success at the Battle
of Monmouth led General Washington to call for the first federally recognized
Independence Day, celebrated with canon fire and a musket salute on the banks
of the Raritan River near present day New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 4,
1778.
���� As American independence enters
its 250th year and people across the country and State begin to reflect on the
pivotal moments and events surrounding the birth of this nation through public
celebrations, educational programs, and initiatives such as Revolution New
Jersey, it is fitting and proper for the Legislature to recognize the rich
history of this State in advancing the cause of freedom in the face of tyranny.