R-254 Page 1 of 1
2024
No. R-254. House concurrent resolution recognizing April 5, 2024 as Civilian Conservation Corps Day in Vermont.
(H.C.R.195)
Offered by: Representatives Bos-Lun of Westminster, Arrison of Weathersfield,
Brennan of Colchester, Casey of Montpelier, Dickinson of St. Albans Town, Emmons of
Springfield, Galfetti of Barre Town, Harrison of Chittenden, Headrick of Burlington,
Higley of Lowell, Laroche of Franklin, Maguire of Rutland City, Morrissey of Bennington,
Page of Newport City, Roberts of Halifax, Taylor of Milton, and Troiano of Stannard Whereas, at the height of the Great Depression, the nation was experiencing an
unprecedented economic crisis resulting in massive unemployment and a major decrease in public works activity, and millions of young men were idle, lacking constructive activity in which to engage and insufficient, if any, financial resources to support themselves, and Whereas, on April 5, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order
6101 formally organizing the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and implementing the recently enacted Emergency Conservation Work Act, 48 Stat. 22 (1933), and Whereas, from 1933 to 1942, approximately 3,463,000 men, mostly 18 to 25 years of
age, resided at CCC camps and worked on public works projects with long-term societal benefits, and Whereas, across the country, in national and state parks and on other public recreational lands, the CCC constructed over 3,000 fire towers, 46,854 bridges, 125,000 miles of roads,
and 13,100 miles of foot trails, and Whereas, three billion trees were planted, 40 million acres of farmland were improved,
and 972 million fish were stocked in the nation’s waters, and Whereas, beyond these construction initiatives, 110,000 members of the CCC who were illiterate gained basic reading and writing skills, and Whereas, Vermont was slated to host four CCC camps, but the passionate lobbying of
legendary State Forester Perry H. Merrill raised that number to more than 30, and camps were organized in communities throughout Vermont, leaving an amazing legacy, now therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly recognizes April 5, 2024 as Civilian Conservation Corps Day in Vermont, and be it further Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
National Civilian Conservation Day Coordinator Mary Podskoch.
VT LEG #376049 v.1