New York State Executive Chamber | Governor Eliot Spitzer

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Proclamation

Whereas, the Empire State proudly recognizes members of professions whose valuable work and contributions serve to advance the course of human progress and, therefore, New Yorkers join to pay tribute to the community of professional engineers who maintain high standards of excellence as they pursue safe, effective and resourceful solutions to both simple and complex problems; and

Whereas, the collective engineering professions impact society through the use of physical, chemical, biological, environmental, technological and mechanical sciences - combined with mathematical analysis and innovative thinking - to discover ways of improving daily life for people today and generations to come; and

Whereas, those who enter any area of engineering science must complete years of rigorous study in advanced levels of education at one of this nation's universities, schools of engineering, or polytechnic institutes, as this strong background prepares them for a lifetime of demanding work in various areas of practice; and

Whereas, over the centuries, professional engineers have made vast contributions to American society - from the first roads and various forms of transportation that allowed people to settle across this land, to the soaring skyscrapers and office buildings that gave rise to our great cities - and they have brought mankind into the modern era through the widespread application of such early discoveries as electricity, a growing network of technological and communication infrastructure, the development of new energy sources, and the availability of lifesaving medical equipment, machinery and treatments; and

Whereas, each year since 1951, the nationwide community of professional engineers has proudly observed Engineers Week - a longstanding tradition that coincides with the birthday of our country's first President, George Washington, honoring him as a military and agricultural engineer, and a land surveyor; it was Washington who founded the first U.S. Army Engineers School in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, as well as the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers to be educated and stationed at what would become the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, located here in New York State; and

Whereas, all of our citizens join with the New York State Society of Professional Engineers, The American Society of Civil Engineers, and all other local engineering societies in celebrating Engineers Week, as we recognize members of this profession and their efforts that improve and hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of our global society;

Now, Therefore, I, Eliot Spitzer, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim February 17-23, 2008 as Engineers Week in the Empire State.

G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at the Capitol in the City of Albany this twentieth day of February in the year two thousand eight.

Eliot Spitzer, Governor

Richard Baum, Secretary to the Governor