LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION declaring the medal being distributed by the
Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission as the official
souvenir of the 2009 New York State Quadricentennial

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the efforts
of those organizations which seek to bring recognition to historical
places, events and figures, within 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, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to declare
the medal being distributed by the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricenten-
nial Commission as the official souvenir of the 2009 New York State
Quadricentennial; and
WHEREAS, The medal, commissioned by Celine Racine Paquette, Vice
Chairman of the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission, has
been forged by Danforth Pewter of Middlebury, Vermont; one side hosts
the Explore New York Hudson-Fulton-Champlain logo and the other side is
a new and unique relief by the artist Judi Danforth that represents
Samuel de Champlain with the Astrolabe he used to map his journeys; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, there will be a card included in the souvenir
package that explains:

Guided by his dreams and his astrolabe, in 1603, Samuel
de Champlain crossed the ocean and discovered New
France. In 1609, he arrived on what is now known as Lake
Champlain, the only place that the widely traveled, yet
humble explorer named after himself.

The astrolabe was the GPS of the time, giving the lati-
tude in relation to the position of the sun and other
celestial bodies. It is told that in 1867, Champlain's
precious tool, his lost astrolabe, was found in the
Ottawa River Valley. But no one knows for sure.

The astrolabe symbolizes the New World and "dreams come
true"; and

WHEREAS, Samuel de Champlain, known as The Father of New France, was a
French navigator, geographer, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier,
explorer, ethnologist, diplomat and chronicler; and
WHEREAS, He founded Quebec City on July 3, 1608, where he served as
its administrator for the rest of his life, before he died on December
25, 1635; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is pleased to have this opportunity to
express its highest admiration for the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadri-
centennial Commission, and for all of the individuals who have worked to
bring proper attention to an explorer and a place which merits recogni-
tion 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
declare the medal being distributed by the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain
Quadricentennial Commission as the official souvenir of the 2009 New
York State Quadricentennial; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial Commission.