Introduced Version
House Bill 2426 History
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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
H. B. 2426
(By Delegates P. Smith, Boggs, Miley, Skaff,
Moore, Poore and L. Phillips)
[Introduced February 13, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization.]
A BILL to amend and reenact §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to designating the first Thursday
in May the West Virginia Day of Prayer.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §2-2-1a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 2. LEGAL HOLIDAYS; SPECIAL MEMORIAL DAYS; CONSTRUCTION OF
STATUTES; DEFINITIONS.
§2-2-1a. Special memorial days.
(a) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the week
beginning with the Sunday before Thanksgiving as a special memorial
week to be known as Native American Indian Heritage Week.
(b) The first Tuesday after the first Monday of November is
designated Susan B. Anthony Day and shall only be a legal holiday
in all years ending in an even number. The Governor shall annually
issue a proclamation calling on all schools, civic organizations, government departments and citizens to undertake activities on the
designated day and surrounding days to pay tribute to the
accomplishments of Susan B. Anthony in securing the civil and
political rights of all Americans, including securing equal voting
rights for women.
(c) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the week
during which December 7 falls to be a special memorial week, to be
known as Pearl Harbor and Military Appreciation week, honoring all
West Virginians who fought in World War II and all other military
conflicts and shall encourage all municipalities in the state to do
the same. The State Department of Education is directed to
implement a program involving activities in which students shall
participate which shall recognize the contributions West Virginians
have made to their country through service in the United States
Military.
(d) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare March 30 as
a special memorial day to be known as Vietnam Veteran Recognition
Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States
Armed Forces in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning
February 28, 1961 and ending May 7, 1975, and shall encourage all
counties and municipalities in the state to do the same.
(e) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare August 7 as
a special memorial day, to be known as Purple Heart Recognition
Day, honoring all West Virginians who, while serving in the United States Armed Forces, have been wounded or killed in action and
shall encourage all municipalities and counties in the state to do
the same.
(f) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare July 27 as a
special memorial day to be known as Korean War Veteran Recognition
Day honoring all West Virginians who served in the United States
Armed Forces in the Korean War, and shall encourage all counties
and municipalities in the state to do the same.
(g) The Governor shall, by proclamation, declare the first
Thursday in May as the West Virginia Day of Prayer. This date
corresponds with the National Day of Prayer, 36 U.S.C. §119, on
which the people of West Virginia may turn to God in prayer and
meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make the first Thursday
of May the West Virginia Day of Prayer.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.