LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Sunday School Union upon
the occasion of hosting its Annual Teachers Recognition Award Luncheon
on April 23, 2016

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Brooklyn Sunday School Union upon the occasion of hosting its Annual
Teachers Recognition Award Luncheon on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at Glen
Terrace, Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, In conjunction with this auspicious event, the Brooklyn
Sunday School Union will commemorate its Bicentennial Anniversary by
celebrating its theme "200 Years - A Milestone"; and
WHEREAS, On April 8, 1816, the Brooklyn Sunday School Union was estab-
lished by a group of men who loved their community of Brooklyn, New
York; Joshua Sand, Andrew Mercein, Abraham Remsen, Thomas Sands, the
Reverend John Irland, William Cornwell, Robert Bache, David Anderson,
Jonathon G. Pray, Joseph G. Harrison, and Robert Snow, as well as Alex-
ander Young were committed to making their neighborhood a better place
to live, work and play; and
WHEREAS, This dedicated group of men strived to attract new people and
businesses to Brooklyn, and subsequently, the Brooklyn Sunday School
Union hosted its first Anniversary Day Parade and services to commem-
orate its founding in June of 1829; and
WHEREAS, Four hundred children from four different Sunday Schools
participated in that inaugural parade including the Sands Street Metho-
dist Church, St. Ann's Protestant Episcopal Church, The First Reformed
Dutch Church and the First Presbyterian Church; and
WHEREAS, On May 24, 1854, more than 14,000 people from 64 Sunday
Schools walked in the 25th Anniversary Day Parade; 75 years later, at
the 100th Parade, more than 100,000 members from over 200 schools
participated; on June 9, 2016, the 200th Parade will be held and will
undoubtedly be commemorated by thousands of people throughout not only
Brooklyn, but the entire State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the past 200 years, this unique religious cele-
bration has brought recognition to Brooklyn, and encouraged numerous
people to attend Sunday School and church; and
WHEREAS, Today, the Brooklyn Sunday School Union continues to stand on
the threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming
decades while retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its
past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Sunday School Union upon the occasion of hosting
its Annual Teachers Recognition Award Luncheon on April 23, 2016; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Brooklyn Sunday School Union.