Bill > HP1331

This joint resolution honors the life and legacy of Samantha Smith, a young Maine native who played an unexpected role in Cold War diplomacy during the early 1980s. At the age of ten, Smith wrote a letter to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov expressing her concerns about the potential for nuclear war, which led to her being invited to visit the Soviet Union. During her visit, she discovered the similarities between Soviet and American children, effectively serving as a child ambassador who helped ease international tensions. The resolution notes that Smith tragically died in a plane crash at age thirteen, but her message of peace and understanding continues to resonate. The legislature recognizes her significant contribution to international understanding by designating the first Monday in June (near her birthday on June 29th) as Samantha Smith Day, and formally pauses to commemorate her remarkable ability to demonstrate how an individual voice can positively impact global relations.

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?paper=HP1331&snum=132