PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY 10, 2026, AS "THE 3RD RHODE ISLAND, REGIMENT/BLACK REGIMENT RECOGNITION DAY" TO COMMEMORATE THE, CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK SOLDIERS DURING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY, WAR
S2513 is a Senate resolution that proclaims February 10, 2026, as “The 3rd Rhode Island Regiment/Black Regiment Recognition Day.” The resolution is commemorative rather than regulatory: it recognizes the contributions of Black soldiers during the American Revolutionary War, with particular emphasis on the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, an integrated unit of Black, White, and Indigenous soldiers that served from 1778 to 1783. The measure highlights the regiment’s service at the Battle of Rhode Island and frames the recognition as part of broader efforts to ensure that Black history in colonial and Revolutionary-era Rhode Island is not forgotten.
The resolution also places the commemoration in the context of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, underscoring the importance of public awareness and historical education. It acknowledges the work of historical and civil rights organizations, including the Newport County NAACP and several local marker and history projects, in documenting and sharing this history. The Secretary of State is directed to send certified copies of the resolution to state, federal, and community recipients.
Because this is a resolution, it does not amend the Rhode Island General Laws or create new legal duties, penalties, or funding requirements. Its practical effect is symbolic: it establishes an official state observance and formally expresses legislative gratitude to the Black soldiers who served in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment. It may also support public history, educational programming, and commemorative activities by state and local organizations.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly affirmative and commemorative. The resolution is written in a celebratory tone, emphasizing valor, gratitude, and the need to preserve an underrecognized part of American and Rhode Island history. No opposing views, votes, or committee objections are included in the available record, and the bill appears to have been introduced for immediate consideration without recorded controversy.
There is little direct contention in the available materials, but the resolution implicitly addresses a historical gap: the underrepresentation of Black contributions in Revolutionary War narratives. The only notable point of emphasis is the bill’s educational and memorial purpose, which may resonate most with historical preservation groups, civil rights organizations, and communities connected to Rhode Island’s colonial and military history.
This resolution has no direct effect on Rhode Island statutes, regulations, or appropriations. Its impact is ceremonial and educational: it creates an official state recognition day, directs distribution of the resolution to specified officials and organizations, and may encourage public remembrance, historical programming, and community observances related to the 1st Rhode Island Regiment and Black Revolutionary War service.
The sentiment around the bill is uniformly positive and commemorative. The resolution praises the bravery and sacrifice of Black soldiers, stresses the importance of public awareness, and aligns with efforts by historical and civil rights organizations to preserve this history. No votes, amendments, or committee debate are provided, so there is no evidence of opposition in the available record.
No explicit contention appears in the bill text or available legislative history. The only potentially sensitive issue is the broader historical framing: the resolution seeks to elevate the role of Black soldiers in the Revolutionary War and correct what it describes as a lack of public awareness. That emphasis is presented as a matter of historical recognition rather than political dispute, and no opposing viewpoints are documented.