WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is home to nearly 300,000 Asian Americans whose traditional values such as respect for family, community, and education help to enrich the lives and culture of all Pennsylvanians; and

WHEREAS, those who trace their heritage back to East and Southeast Asia will celebrate the coming of the Lunar new year when the Rat replaces the Boar as the controller of events; and

WHEREAS, according to ancient tradition, the Rat is full of initiative, and is intelligent, charismatic, practical, and hardworking. The Year of the Rat will inspire us to embrace the pioneering and enterprising spirit of our immigrant ancestors to help our  families and communities, which will, in turn, bring happiness and security to our neighborhoods and a positive business climate to our commonwealth and nation; and

THEREFORE, I, Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim 2008 as the Year of the Rat in Pennsylvania and encourage all Pennsylvanians to recognize and appreciate the valuable contributions of Asian Americans to our communities, our commonwealth, and our nation. I wish happiness, longevity, and good fortune to everyone celebrating the Year of the Rat.

GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of Harrisburg, on this eighteenth day of December in the year of our Lord two thousand and seven, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-second.

EDWARD G. RENDELL
Governor

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