 
Senate Resolution No. 730
 
BY: Senator KENNEDY
 
        COMMEMORATING  the  90th  Anniversary of the Peace
        Bridge
 
  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative  Body  to  support  the
preservation and commemoration of historical landmarks which express and
preserve  the  social  and  cultural  origins of this great State of New
York; and
 
  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Peace Bridge; and
 
  WHEREAS,  On  August  7,  1927,  the  Peace  Bridge  was  officially
dedicated  to celebrate the 100 years of peace between the United States
and Canada; during the opening ceremony, attendants included The  Prince
of Wales, Prince George; Canadian Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie
King;  British  Prime  Minister,  Stanley  Baldwin;  United  States Vice
President, Charles Dawes; Secretary of State, Frank  Kellogg;  New  York
Governor, Al Smith and Ontario Premier, Howard Ferguson; and
 
  WHEREAS,  As the second-busiest business border crossing between the
United States and Canada, it is an integral part of our trade  industry;
billions  of dollars in trade cross the bridge every year bringing goods
from all over Canada through Fort Erie,  Ontario  and  from  the  United
States through Buffalo, New York across the Peace Bridge; and
 
  WHEREAS, Built with steel from Lackawanna's Bethlehem Steel Company,
the  bridge  took  11  months to build, measuring at 4,400 feet long and
9,000 tons at completion; spanning from Fort Erie to Buffalo,  the  main
span of the bridge crosses the canal at a height of 100 feet; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  Peace  Bridge  has  been a prodigious addition to the
economic growth in the Buffalo area, bringing many tourists to the  area
to  walk  across  the  bridge  and  enjoy  the breathtaking views of the
Niagara River, Lake Erie, and the City of Buffalo skyline; and
 
  WHEREAS, Visitors of this modern architectural marvel are also  able
to  view  two  exhibits,  "Mewinzha  -  A Journey Back in Time" and "The
Bridge that Peace Built", which explain the history  of  the  bridge  as
well  as the economic, historical, cultural and familial ties Canada and
New York share; and
 
  WHEREAS, Recently, the Peace  Bridge  pioneered  a  new  sustainable
light  system,  that  uses  just one-third of the energy of the previous
system;  this  renovation  was  funded  by  the  United  States  Federal
Transportation  Enhancement  Program  with  support from the Buffalo and
Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority; and
 
  WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to  join  in  the
celebration   of  the  90th  Anniversary  so  that  present  and  future
generations may come to appreciate the  unique  significance  which  its
history  plays  in  the progression of our State and Nation's evolution;
now, therefore, be it
 
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 90th  Anniversary  of  the  Peace  Bridge,  as  well  as
recognize  its significant history and dynamic symbolism to the alliance
that the United States has with Canada; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Byron Brown, Mayor of Buffalo.
Commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Peace Bridge

What's Happening

Why It Matters
