State bill would create annual Ronald Reagan Day

Lawmakers want schools to honor late president Feb. 6

By ROBIN HINDERY - Associated Press
April 8, 2010 8:00 pm

SACRAMENTO ---- California moved one step closer Thursday to establishing an annual day honoring Ronald Reagan, the former president, governor and actor.

The state Senate unanimously passed a bill designating Feb. 6 as Ronald Reagan Day.

The measure encourages schools to spend the day commemorating Reagan's life and accomplishments.

The legislation, which heads to the Assembly, is one of three Reagan-themed bills Republican lawmakers hope to pass before Feb. 6, 2011.

That would have been the 100th birthday of the conservative icon, who died in 2004.

Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, one of the bill's co-authors, described Reagan as "an American hero and California legend."

"President Reagan's leadership, courage, principled beliefs and ability to communicate with the American public earned him a special place in the hearts and minds of Americans," Dutton said Thursday.

Ronald Reagan Day would be the third special day of recognition in California dedicated to an individual.

The first honors conservationist John Muir. Last year, lawmakers established a day honoring Harvey Milk, a gay activist and former San Francisco supervisor who was gunned down at City Hall in 1978.

http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-r ... 6f9ba.html