MICHIGAN SENATE
Senate Resolution No. 71
Offered by Senators Camilleri, Cherry, Geiss, McMorrow, Moss, Polehanki and Wojno
A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 21, 2023,
AS MALTESE AMERICAN HERITAGE DAY
WHEREAS, Malta is a country in the central Mediterranean Sea with a rich and unique
history dating back thousands of years; and
WHEREAS, Because of its strategic location, this archipelago of six islands has been a naval
asset for centuries and was also instrumental in World War II. After coming under siege by
Axis Powers, the ensuing Allied offensive to regain the island was successful and instrumental
in the following North African campaign; and
WHEREAS, Malta would eventually gain its independence from the United Kingdom on
September 21, 1964 and became a republic in 1974. Today, Malta is a unitary multiparty republic,
with a parliament consisting of a unicameral House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, Despite its small geographic size, Malta is the fourth most densely populated
country in Europe and the eighth most in the world, with a population of nearly 450,000 spread
across approximately 121 square miles; and
WHEREAS, Among other unique attributes, Malta boasts three United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) heritage sites, delicious cuisine, world‑renowned
diving, and other recreational opportunities on its stunning coastline, with some of the oldest
freestanding structures in the world; and
WHEREAS, The United States is fortunate to be home to more than 38,000 Maltese Americans.
The 2013 American Community Survey estimates that over 12,900 Michiganders are Maltese
immigrants or children of Maltese immigrants, making the Metro Detroit area the largest
concentration of Maltese Americans in the nation; and
WHEREAS, Michiganders of Maltese descent, from the auto workers that helped build
Michigan into an industrial powerhouse, to the entrepreneurs who opened restaurants that are
still serving the Metro Detroit community today, have employed the Maltese values of creativity,
perseverance, and relentless hard work to build a better future for their families and the
communities they call home; and
WHEREAS, Both the state of Michigan and the United States of America have been enriched
by the contributions of Maltese Americans in all facets of life, including the arts, sciences,
business, education, and philanthropy; and
WHEREAS, Maltese American residents are proudly served in Michigan by the Maltese
American Benevolent Society in Detroit and the Maltese American Community Club in
Dearborn; and
WHEREAS, Michigan views cultural diversity as a strength and welcomes the opportunity to
honor our fellow Michiganders of Maltese descent for their lasting and expanding imprint upon
our state; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the members of this legislative body recognize
September 21, 2023, as Maltese American Heritage Day. We encourage all citizens to celebrate
the individual and collective contributions of Maltese Americans to this state and to this country.
Adopted by the Senate, September 19, 2023.
Secretary of the Senate