HJ436: Commending Aragona Pembroke Little League on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 436
Commending Aragona Pembroke Little League on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

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Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2010
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2010

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WHEREAS, in 1960 the citizens of the Aragona Village and Pembroke communities of Virginia Beach saw the need for organized baseball to support the youth of their neighborhoods and opted to join the Little League Baseball, Inc., franchise; and

WHEREAS, with 10 uniformed teams of boys ages eight through 12, the first Aragona Pembroke Little League games took place on June 4, 1960, at a field located on the grounds of the Christ Presbyterian Church; and

WHEREAS, the league played games at the church, at schools, and in empty fields before leasing the property at its current location at 595 De Laura Lane; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s, the Aragona Pembroke Little League recognized the need for a program for girls and established a softball program, and in 1991, the Aragona Pembroke Little League established a Challenger baseball program for mentally and physically challenged children; and

WHEREAS, in July 2001, players from Aragona Pembroke Little League had the exciting opportunity to participate in a Tee Ball game on the White House lawn; and

WHEREAS, through the last five decades, both boys? and girls? teams have won numerous district championship titles with players advancing to state, regional, and World Series tournaments; and

WHEREAS, in 2000 Aragona Pembroke Little League purchased the front portion of the complex from the City of Virginia Beach, which included ball fields and facilities, and in 2004, Aragona Pembroke Little League received a donation of 7.5 acres of land that contained the remainder of the current complex and room to expand, bringing the total complex size to 13 acres; and

WHEREAS, the Aragona Pembroke Little League will celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout 2010, including an Opening Day parade showcasing a half-century of Little League; and

WHEREAS, the approximately 400 ballplayers will wear an anniversary patch on their uniforms commemorating 50 years of youth baseball in Virginia Beach; the slogan for 2010 is ?Five Decades ? Thousands of Dreams?; and

WHEREAS, over the decades, thousands of parents, grandparents, ballplayers, and volunteers have participated in and contributed to the success of the Aragona Pembroke Little League; and

WHEREAS, by instructing young people in the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship, the coaches, officials, and dedicated volunteers of the Aragona Pembroke Little League assisted in the development of upstanding and productive citizens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Aragona Pembroke Little League on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Aragona Pembroke Little League as an expression of the General Assembly?s congratulations and best wishes for continued success.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 436
Offered March 8, 2010
Commending Aragona Pembroke Little League on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.
Patron-- Stolle

WHEREAS, in 1960, the citizens of the Aragona Village and Pembroke communities of Virginia Beach saw the need for organized baseball to support the youth of their neighborhoods and opted to join the Little League Baseball, Inc., franchise; and

WHEREAS, with 10 uniformed teams of boys ages eight through 12, the first Aragona Pembroke Little League games took place on June 4, 1960, at a field located on the grounds of the Christ Presbyterian Church; and

WHEREAS, the league played games at the church, at schools, and in empty fields before leasing the property at its current location at 595 De Laura Lane; and

WHEREAS, in the 1980s, the Aragona Pembroke Little League recognized the need for a program for girls and established a softball program, and in 1991, the Aragona Pembroke Little League established a Challenger baseball program for mentally and physically challenged children; and

WHEREAS, in July 2001, players from Aragona Pembroke Little League had the exciting opportunity to participate in a Tee Ball game on the White House lawn; and

WHEREAS, through the last five decades, both boys? and girls? teams have won numerous district championship titles with players advancing to state, regional, and World Series tournaments; and

WHEREAS, in 2000, Aragona Pembroke Little League purchased the front portion of the complex from the City of Virginia Beach, which included ball fields and facilities, and in 2004, Aragona Pembroke Little League received a donation of 7.5 acres of land that contained the remainder of the current complex and room to expand, bringing the total complex size to 13 acres; and

WHEREAS, the Aragona Pembroke Little League will celebrate its 50th anniversary throughout 2010, including an Opening Day parade showcasing a half-century of Little League; and

WHEREAS, the approximately 400 ballplayers will wear an anniversary patch on their uniforms commemorating 50 years of youth baseball in Virginia Beach while the slogan for 2010 is ?Five Decades ? Thousands of Dreams?; and

WHEREAS, over the decades, thousands of parents, grandparents, ballplayers, and volunteers have participated in and contributed to the success of the Aragona Pembroke Little League; and

WHEREAS, by instructing young people in the value of teamwork and good sportsmanship, the coaches, officials, and dedicated volunteers of the Aragona Pembroke Little League assisted in the development of upstanding and productive citizens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend the Aragona Pembroke Little League on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Aragona Pembroke Little League as an expression of the General Assembly?s congratulations and best wishes for continued success.