California, 2007

Marriage Week Proclamation template
(developed by Carolyn Curtis and Patty Howell of the California Healthy Marriage Coalition,
please borrow and adapt for your own commuinty)

WHEREAS, We come together this day to reaffirm the value of marriage,
which as a binding public commitment becomes the foundation of healthy
families, healthy children, and a healthy community; and

WHEREAS, Marriage binds couples together in a network of affection,
mutual aid, and mutual obligation, commits fathers to their children, and
connects children to a wider network of welcoming kin, Marriage thus is
the outward, visible sign of a couple’s desire to create a lasting love and
provide the bastion on-going of support necessary for the growth of healthy
children.

WHEREAS, Mounting scientific evidence confirms that the best environment
for children to flourish is in being raised by parents in healthy marriages, rather
than in unhealthy marriages or by single or cohabitating parents.  Research
indicates that in such healthy marriages, children experience the following:
They are more likely to succeed academically and attend college, are physically
and emotionally healthier, and are less likely to attempt or commit suicide. 
MOREOVER, these children demonstrate less behavioral problems in school, are
less likely to be a victim of physical or sexual abuse, less likely to abuse drugs or
alcohol, less likely to commit delinquent behaviors, have a better relationship
with their mothers and fathers, are less likely to be sexually active and become
pregnant as a teenager or impregnate someone, are less likely to contract STDs,
have a decreased chance of divorcing when they get married, and are less likely
to be raised in poverty, and

WHEREAS, Healthy Marriages protect adults as well as children, mothers as
well as fathers. Research indicates that women in healthy relationships experience
the following:  More physical and emotional health, more wealth, are less likely
to be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or other violent crimes, less
likely to attempt or commit suicide, have decreased risk of drug and, less likely
to contract STDs, are less likely to remain or end up in poverty, and more likely
to have better relationships with their children, and

WHEREAS, Healthy Marriages equally protect men as well as women.  Research
indicates that men experience the following: More likely to live longer, be physically
and emotionally healthier, wealthier, have increased stability of employment, higher
wages, decreased risk of drug and alcohol abuse, have better relationships with their
children, more a satisfying sexual relationship, are be less likely to commit violent
crimes, less likely to contract STDs, and are less likely to attempt or commit suicide, and

WHEREAS, Because we acknowledge the importance of lasting, healthy marriage to be
the well-being of children and therefore, to the future of our community, we recognize
that our community benefits from having a high percentage of couples in healthy
relationships.  We note the following: Higher rates of physically healthy citizens, higher
rates of emotionally healthy citizens, higher rates of educated citizens, lower domestic
violence rates, lower crime statistics, lower teenage pregnancy rates, lower rates of juvenile
delinquency, higher rates of home ownership, lower rates of migration, higher property
values, and overall decreased need for social services. Recent advances in research have
helped us identify the behaviors and skills necessary for a healthy relationship.  Furthermore,
we now have proven methods for teaching these skills and behaviors.

THEREFORE,
In consideration of all these important values for our community, we do hereby
proclaim February 11-February 17, 2007 as  MARRIAGE WEEK in the county of
Sacramento.

Florida Marriage Proclamation - 2/5/07

Louisiana Marriage Proclamation - 2/14, 1999
http://lists101.his.com/pipermail/smartmarriages/1999-March/002072.html

Proclamation

WHEREAS, We come together this day to reaffirm the special status of marriage in America.  Marriage is not just another lifestyle choice but the foundation of healthy families and a healthy future for America; and

WHEREAS, Marriage, in every known human society, creates new families, binds men and women together in a network of affection, mutual aid, and mutual obligation, commits fathers to their children, and connects children to a wider network of welcoming kin. Marriage is the outward, visible
sign of a man and a woman's desire to create a lasting love, forge a tie so strong that a child's heart can rely upon it; and

WHEREAS, Mounting scientific evidence confirms that when the marriage tie frays, our children suffer: Children raised outside of marriage are more likely to commit crime, to fail at school and on the job, to abuse drugs, to lapse into physical and mental illness, to become teen parents, to suffer material deprivation, and saddest of all, to become the victims of child abuse; and

WHEREAS,  Children suffer as well from painful anxieties, persistent fears of abandonment, arising from one or both parents inability to make or keep the marriage commitment. Marriage as an institution deserves our special respect and concern because it is irreplaceable: marriage creates the safest space for children to flourish, the only practical way for children to enjoy the full emotional, moral and financial protection of both parents; and

WHEREAS, Marriage protects adults as well as children, mothers as well as fathers, offering the way of life to adults that promotes the core
values Americans hold dear: work, responsibility, commitment, sobriety, relationship.  This may be one reason why, research shows, men and
women who get and stay married live longer, healthier, wealthier more satisfying lives; and

WHEREAS, Because we recognize the special place of marriage in American society and in American hearts; and

WHEREAS, Because we honor marriage as the extraordinary vow that ordinary people make - and guide their lives by-- every day; and

WHEREAS, Because we acknowledge the irreplaceable importance of lasting, healthy marriage to the well-being of children and therefore, to the future of our nation; and

WHEREAS, Because we wish to applaud and encourage efforts by states and local government and by leaders of civil society to strengthen
marriages in a variety of new ways, such as marriage education programs, community marriage policies and new covenant marriage laws,

NOW, THEREFORE, I
M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr., Governor of the state of Louisiana,
do hereby proclaim February 14, 1999, as
NATIONAL MARRIAGE DAY in the state of Louisiana.
signed by
Governor, M.J. "Mike" Foster, Jr.

 VALENTINE'S DAY ACTION IN LOUISIANA:

                             LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM
                                  ACTION ALERT

               February 14th: National Marriage Day Proclamation

                         Your  Mayors Need to Hear From You!

The Louisiana Family Forum has contacted all mayors in Louisiana,
requesting that they sign proclamations declaring February 14th, National
Marriage Day.  LFF mailed each of them a sample Mayor's Proclamation similar
to the one Governor Mike Foster issued at LFF's request this year.  Five
other Louisiana cities have issued these proclamations, (attached) a portion
of which states:

WHEREAS, because Providence has established marriage as a covenant
relationship, giving rise to sacred, lifelong, and unconditional love and
the accompanying obligations of, fidelity, support and assistance" (La.
Civil Code Article 98);
and

WHEREAS, because we honor marriage as the extraordinary vow that ordinary
people make and guide their lives by everyday; and

WHEREAS, because we acknowledge the irreplaceable importance of lasting,
healthy marriage to the well-being of children and therefore, to the future
of our nation;

NOW THEREFORE, I, ______________, Mayor of ____________________ do hereby
proclaim

February 14, xxx  as NATIONAL MARRIAGE DAY.

If you are interested in having your city promote National Marriage Day,
call your mayor with this message-- "Mayor  ________, have you signed the
National Marriage Day Proclamation?  Louisiana Family Forum mailed you a
copy of the proclamation and my family would appreciate your involvement in
this issue."

If your mayor has signed the proclamation, please thank them.  If he/she has
not, please encourage him/her to do so before February 14th.

Contact information for your mayor can be found at the Louisiana Municipal
Association's website:  http://www.lamunis.org/munis.htm.  Select your city
from the drop-down list.

Indiana Bills & Marriage Proclamation - 2/03
http://lists101.his.com/pipermail/smartmarriages/2003-February/001472.html

STATE OF INDIANA
EXECUTIVE ORDER PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, marriage is an honored, important and valued component of strong
families and communities across Indiana and our nation; and

WHEREAS, February 14 is traditionally celebrated as St. Valentine's Day,
when married couples and others celebrate the value of and importance of
loving personal relationships in their lives; and

WHEREAS, marriage is a valuable institution for those who choose to marry
and is the foundation of many strong families in Indiana; and,

WHEREAS, marriage represents the strong commitment two individuals make to
love each other, to support each other and to build a family together; and,

WHEREAS, marriage is worthy of the support and encouragement of all members
of society for its ability to uplift individuals and children because it
provides a framework for positive and supportive role models for children;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FRANK O'BANNON, Governor of the State of Indiana, do
herby proclaim February 7-14, 2003, as MARRIAGE WEEK INDIANA in the State of
Indiana, and invite all citizens to take due not of the observance.

For additional articles about marriage proclamations, visit the Archive and search for
proclamation. http://archives.his.com/smartmarriages/

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