On Tuesday evening, October 21st, at the Town Meeting of the Board of
Selectmen (or town council) of Litchfield, Connecticut in the United
States, the First Selectman (equivalent to Executive Mayor of the Town)
read out a proclamation creating a Friendship Week between Litchfield
Connecticut and Lichfield England. The week will run from October 17th to
October 22nd. As well as being attended by the Board of Selectmen and
people from the Town of Litchfield, 22 people from Lichfield, England also
attended the Town Meeting. They were taking part in a visit to the United
States organised by Michael Fabricant to build closer links between the UK
and the US.

Michael now says "As the proclamation reads, our towns share a common
name and a common heritage and I was delighted that this unexpected
proclamation was made and signed by all the Selectmen who are the
councillors of the Town of Litchfield. I hope that over the coming months
we will be able to build on this and create still stronger links between
our two communities. The bonds of language and a common legal systems and
heritage already mean that the US is our biggest trading partner. I am
keen to explore other ways our nations can cooperate still further to our
mutual benefit and prosperity. And at a local level, I am keen to exploit
the fact that a number of cities worldwide are named after our famous
Cathedral City. This can only benefit Lichfield, Staffordshire in terms
of tourism and trade".

As well as meeting the Board of Selectmen, the delegation also met the US
Congresswoman for the Congressional District which includes Litchfield,
the Honorable Nancy Johnson on Sunday October 19th. Nancy Johnson is
Michael Fabricant’s counterpart in Washington DC. The meeting was held
prior to a service at the Litchfield First Congregational Church founded
in 1721. Afterwards, at the Sunday service, Michael Fabricant was invited
by the Rev Dr Edward F Duffy to read the lesson from the Book of Nehemiah
before a packed congregation.

The Text of the Proclamation signed by the Town of Litchfield, Connecticut
reads:-

Whereas The Town of Litchfield, Connecticut USA of similar name and
heritage as the ancient and respected city of Lichfield, England do share
this common bond, and
Whereas We sincerely trust that your inhabitants may prosper and enjoy
good health, and
Whereas By continued interchange of kindly messages and visits, we will
strengthen the feelings of friendship and brotherhood which exist between
our great lands, and in keeping with this desire;
Therefore be it Resolved, that the week of October 17 through October 22
be designated Friendship Week between Litchfield Connecticut USA and
Lichfield England.

Left: Michael Fabricant with Jerry R Zinn, The First Selectman of the Town of
Litchfield.
Centre: Michael Fabricant with US Congresswoman, the Honorable Nancy L Johnson
and Rev Dr Edward F Duffy before the pulpit in Litchfield Congregational
Church.
Right: Michael Fabricant with US Congresswoman, the Honorable Nancy L Johnson,
and some of the party from Lichfield England in the pews of the old
colonial Church.