MICHIGAN SENATE
Senate Resolution No. 138
Offered by Senators Camilleri, Anthony, Bayer, Brinks, Cavanagh, Chang, Geiss, Irwin,
Klinefelt, McCann, McMorrow, Moss, Polehanki, Singh and Wojno
A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE SEPTEMBER 21, 2024,
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 cam-
paign; and
WHEREAS, Malta would eventually gain its independence from the United Kingdom on September 21,
1964 and became a republic in 1974; and
WHEREAS, September 21, 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of Malta’s independence. 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, 2024,
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 17, 2024.
Secretary of the Senate