State Day

April 2 was designated by the 1953 legislature as State Day because Ponce de León first sighted Florida about that date in 1513. The designation by lawmakers was at the suggestion of Mary A. Harrell, a teacher of Social Studies in the John Gorrie Junior High School of Jacksonville.

The Legislature also authorized the Governor to annually proclaim March 27—April 2 as "Pascua Week" and to call upon schools and the citizenry for observance of this period as a patriotic occasion. Whenever April 2 falls on Saturday or Sunday, the Governor may declare either the preceding Friday or the following Monday as the State Day.