From the Atlas Obscura website …

Although the Louisiana Purchase technically went through on April 30, 1803, transferring hundreds of millions of acres of land is no small feat. It took months for the requisite arrangements to be made. Throughout the summer and fall of 1803, Congress signed papers, and money changed hands. That winter, there was an official Americanizing ceremony in New Orleans, which served as the territory’s capital. 

A depiction of the signing of the Louisiana Treaty near New Orleans.

 

But because it was winter in the 1800s, the many territory residents north of New Orleans didn’t get word of that switch until much later. So in March of 1804, it was decided that there should be another official ceremony, in St. Louis.

 

But there was a small problem: St. Louis was one of the cities the Spanish hadn’t gotten around to giving up. Authorities soon realized that, in order to actualize the territory’s new identity, “two treaties must be put into effect at one time,” writes historian Walter Barlow Stevens in St. Louis, The Fourth City. First, the land had to be be transferred from Spain to France. Then, it had to be be transferred again, from France to the United States.

Keeping all that in mind, Mayor Anthony, at Tuesday’s meeting of the Riverdale City Council, issued a mayoral proclamation making the period from noon on March 9 through noon on March 10, Three Flags Day in Riverdale.

Local businesses and the City of Riverdale rely on the advice and counsel of engineers to make sure their businesses continue to operate efficiently and cost-effectively. Recognizing the importance and value of engineers and the need to continue encouraging young people to look at STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields for potential careers, Mayor Anthony Heddlesten has proclaimed that the week of February 20, 2022 shall be Engineers’ Week in Riverdale, Iowa.

So, show your appreciation to your favorite engineer. But when you give him or her a hug, watch out for that pocket protector!

Mayoral Proclamation making the week of February 20th Engineers Week

The Proclamation

Whereas, the National Society of Professional Engineers is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers​.

Whereas, the Quad City Engineering and Science Council is celebrating this Thursday by awarding engineering awards to a variety of people and organizations throughout our region that exemplify what it means to be an engineer.

Whereas, the Society of American Military Engineers, Rock Island Post and American Society of Civil Engineers, Quad City Chapter are hosting their annual training event this Friday to provide continuing education and a broad sharing of engineering knowledge across our Region.

Whereas, EWeek promotes recognition among parents, teachers, and students of the importance of a technical education and a high level of math, science, and technology literacy, and motivates youth, to pursue engineering careers in order to provide a diverse and vigorous engineering workforce.

Whereas, the City of Riverdale relies frequently on the technical expertise of engineers, particularly that of our City Engineer, Chris Cooper, PE, of MSA Professional Services as well as additional ones our community and others hire out at times to support specific technically challenging projects such as the Woods Estates stormwater system and the Fenno Road rehabilitation.

Whereas, businesses in our community, such as Arconic, Schebler, and Allied Valve rely on the skills of their engineers to produce some of the finest products in the world, right here in our community.

Whereas,our community is helping to build the next generation of engineers with teachers and programs in STEM at one of the state’s best high schools, Riverdale’s own Pleasant Valley High School, and engineering technology degrees from Riverdale’s own Scott Community College.

Therefore, be it resolved, that I, Anthony Heddlesten, PE, Mayor of the City of Riverdale, Iowa, myself a professional engineer, do hereby proclaim the week of February 20-26, 2022

Engineers’ Week

And encourage all residents, staff, and visitors to our community to explore the great engineering opportunities within our community and reflect on the improvements that engineers have made to our community since its founding, 69 years ago.