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Senator Therese Murray's Keynote Address As a Plymouthean and the state Senator representing Plymouth, I am honored to be here with you this evening to unveil the logo that will be the brand for our 2020 celebration. I want to thank everyone who has been working so hard on Plymouth 2020, particularly the members of the 400th Committee, who have begun the daunting task of planning this celebration. Two hundred-ninety years ago, the Pilgrims set foot on this land – a land that was new to them – a land that held the promise of new beginning. It is because of their commitment and determination that they were able to make the treacherous journey – and it was their will to survive and the support of the indigenous people that got them through that first winter. Their story is one that is woven into the fabric of our nation’s history. And we need to make sure that we continue to tell the whole story. Commemorating the landing of the Mayflower while acknowledging the sacrifices and support of the Native people gives a true representation of our history, how we have grown, and how we will continue to thrive. In ten years we will mark not only the landing, but what that represents to us as a Town, as a Commonwealth, and as a nation. It is so fitting that today, the day that the Mayflower left Plymouth, England we take our next step in commemorating that historic journey. We have learned a lot from Jamestown’s commemoration, and I know ours will far exceed that celebration. We know what we need to do to make our 400th anniversary celebrations fitting for the first permanent English settlement, and the 400th Committee is executing those goals. This year-long celebration will give us a unique opportunity to put America’s Hometown on both a national and international stage. Our collaborations include welcoming heads of state, promoting our celebration internationally and fostering new collaboration and cooperation across the Atlantic. I have been working with the UK Consul General and the University of Plymouth, UMASS and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute on a potential new collaboration for 2020 that will recognize our historical ties and enhance future connections. And as we get closer to finalizing that effort we will make an official announcement. It is very clear from my work with the Consul General and other UK officials, people are excited about this celebration and what it will entail. They are encouraged and energized by our efforts and plans and want to work with us to make this the best possible 400th anniversary. 2019-2020 will be a year of cultural, historical and educational events that will allow both residents and visitors from across the country and around the world to understand and experience the beginning of our nation. This is an opportunity to support our local businesses and showcase the vibrant, historically and culturally rich community in which we live. This logo is the beginning of those efforts and I know that with the 400th Committee at the helm, our anniversary celebration is going to exceed all of our expectations. I will close with a quote from Daniel Webster’s Plymouth Oration, given at the bicentennial of the landing: “We live in the past by knowledge of its history; and in the future, by hope and anticipation. By ascending to an association with our ancestors; by contemplating their example and studying their character; by partaking their sentiments, and imbibing their spirit; by accompanying them in their toils, by sympathizing in their sufferings, and rejoicing in their successes and their triumphs; we seem to belong to their age, and to mingle our own existence with theirs.” Thank you!
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