A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE SEVENTY‑FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY.
Whereas, the Blue Ridge Parkway will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2010; and
Whereas, construction of the Blue Ridge Parkway took more than 52 years, beginning on September 11, 1935, near the Cumberland Knob in North Carolina and ending with the last portion being laid out near the Linn Cove Viaduct in 1987; and
Whereas, the 469‑mile Parkway runs through the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting Shenandoah National Park's Skyline Drive in Virginia at Rockfish Gap to U.S. 441 at Oconaluftee in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park near Cherokee, North Carolina, providing visitors with stunning views and a glimpse of Appalachian history; and
Whereas, at the time of its construction, the Parkway was the longest road ever to be planned as a single unit in the United States; and
Whereas, the Parkway was a collaborative effort of the National Park Service; the federal Bureau of Public Roads (later renamed the Federal Highway Administration); New Deal agencies like the Public Works Administration, Works Progress Administration, Civilian Conservation Corps, and Resettlement Administration; the state highway departments of Virginia and North Carolina; and dozens of private road‑building contractors; and
Whereas, R. Getty Browning, the Senior Locating and Claims Engineer for North Carolina's State Highway Commission, played a crucial role in the construction of the Parkway; and
Whereas, captivated by the idea of creating a parkway in late 1933, R. Getty Browning designed and personally plotted on foot the route that the road now takes through North Carolina; and
Whereas, in 1934, R. Getty Browning lobbied for this route in the face of opposition from residents of Tennessee and federal officials who favored another line; and
Whereas, for more than 25 years, R. Getty Browning personally made sure that North Carolina bought sufficient lands to protect the Parkway's views; and
Whereas, R. Getty Browning retired from the State Highway Commission in 1956 and later worked as the Highway Commission's Federal Parkway Engineer until 1962; and
Whereas, R. Getty Browning died on January 30, 1966, in Blowing Rock; and
Whereas, the Parkway continues to be the most visited of all the 391 units in the National Park System; and
Whereas, the Parkway attracts over 20 million visitors annually and contributes more than $2.3 billion annually to the region's economy; and
Whereas, as the Parkway celebrates its 75th anniversary, it is important to raise awareness of this exceptional natural and cultural resource; and
Whereas, the citizens of this State are encouraged to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway by joining the local communities along the Parkway in participating in a series of events that focus regional and national attention on the history and stewardship of this treasure; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of R. Getty Browning for his role in routing and building the Blue Ridge Parkway through Western North Carolina.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly acknowledges the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway and encourages the citizens of this State to participate in activities marking this historic occasion.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Superintendent of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.