LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Travis, New York, upon the occasion of
hosting its 100th Annual Independence Day Parade on Sunday, July 4, 2010

WHEREAS, Our proud tradition of celebrating the birth of our Nation on
July 4, 1776, is not only a tribute to our rich history, but a
reflection of our living commitment to the exercise of freedom, a legacy
which rings through the ages and touches every citizen throughout the
land of liberty; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Travis, New York, upon the occasion of hosting its 100th Annual Inde-
pendence Day Parade on Sunday, July 4, 2010; and
WHEREAS, This year's Grand Marshal is Janice Blanchard who is also the
Chairman of the Travis 4th of July Celebration Committee; and
WHEREAS, Nestled in the marshes of Staten Island's West Shore is a
small town, a hamlet, called Travis; originally known as Travisville,
the town was named for Colonel Jacob Travis who resided here before the
Civil War; the town went through several name changes throughout the
years before officially becoming Travis again sometime between 1920 and
1930; and
WHEREAS, During the American Revolution, 9,000 English troops landed
on Staten Island; a contingent of Loyalist troops was camped in Travis,
which was then known as New Blazing Star; it was here on August 22,
1777, that a major skirmish on Staten Island between General George
Washington's Patriots and General William Howe's Loyalists was fought;
and
WHEREAS, In the year 1819, the site of this battle of the Revolution-
ary War, at the terminus of the Richmond Turnpike (later given the
commemorative name of Victory Boulevard) became the New Blazing Star
Ferry; during this time, the town become one of the most important
points of travel in the country; stagecoaches and mail-wagons traveled
through the village of New Blazing Star to the ferry, which crossed the
Arthur Kill and landed in Carteret, New Jersey where the coaches then
continued on their route to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, In 1873, the town became the home of the American Linoleum
Manufacturing Company - the first factory of its kind in the United
States; in 1882, the company became one of the first users of electric-
ity when it installed electric lights to facilitate work at night; by
1900, the plant employed 700 workers and 3,000 people called Linoleum-
ville their home; and
WHEREAS, The community of Travis refuses to let its history die; it is
seen at its best each year on the Fourth of July when it hosts one of
the oldest, consecutive Independence Day celebrations in the United
States; the spirit of community of Travis can be easily defined by the
three "P's": Pride, Patriotism and Perseverance; and
WHEREAS, Since the parade's inception in 1911, participants have
marched down Victory Boulevard from Cannon Avenue to Glen Street in the
community's annual Independence Day parade; and
WHEREAS, Since its beginning in 1911, the Travis Fourth of July Parade
has seen only minor change; the 1912 baseball games between the "bloom-
er-girls" and the "bloomer-boys" are gone, but then again so is Arco
Park - the field where those games were played; however, giant red,
white and blue decorations still adorn the streets as well as the char-
acter that distinguishes the town; and
WHEREAS, The Travis community is a survivor of a long gone era;
despite the physical intrusions of modern times into its life, Travis

still boasts the qualities of the American Pioneer; it is in those qual-
ities that one finds the charm of Travis; and
WHEREAS, The treasured values of families' united and wholesome enter-
tainment for all ages reflected in this event help to foster community
spirit and cooperation, as well as preserve the beliefs, ideals and
values for which our forefathers declared the independence of these
United States; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
most joyously commend Travis, New York, upon the occasion of hosting its
100th Annual Independence Day Parade, fully confident that such proce-
dure mirrors our shared commitment to preserve, to enhance and yet
effect the patrimony of freedom which is our American heritage; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Travis, New York.