CITY OF SEBASTOPOL
Proclamation
In Recognition of the 40 Year Anniversary – Sister City Takeo City, Japan and City of Sebastopol
Whereas, Takeo City, Japan, and Sebastopol have been linked by their sister city relationship for 40 years; and Whereas, on March 27, 1985, the original sister city charter between Yamauchi, Saga, Japan and Sebastopol, California, United States was signed; and
Whereas, Sebastopol World Friends recognizes this date as the commencement of sister city activities which would come to include equally rewarding relationships with Takeo, Japan and Chyhyryn, Ukraine; and Whereas, World Friends organization members, City employees, Student Ambassadors, Residents, and Volunteers from the two communities have worked tirelessly in innumerable ways, with great passion, patience and commitment, to support this sister city relationship; and Whereas, because of this extraordinary sister city relationship, countless Yamauchi, Takeo City, and Sebastopol citizens, both youth and adult, have participated in successful cultural exchanges; and Whereas, the sister city relationship has flourished for 40 years, fostering a deep bond of friendship and mutual understanding between our communities; and
Whereas, these cultural exchanges have not only enriched the lives of individuals but have also contributed to fostering a greater sense of global unity and peace, as well as creating lifelong connections between people from different cultures; and
Whereas, the lives, hearts and minds of these participants and their hosts have been forever changed and enriched by their experiences, having come to know each other as individuals, having learned about each other’s cultures, and spent time in each other’s homes; and
Whereas, the citizens of our two cities will never again simply be strangers, but are linked with strong bonds of friendship; these relationships are often lifelong and even multi-generational and are characterized by strong feelings of mutual respect, understanding and concern for one another.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Mayor Stephen Zollman, am honored to recognize and celebrate the sister city relationship between Sebastopol and Yamauchi/Takeo City for its deep impact on the citizens and culture of our two communities and its realization of the Sebastopol World Friends’ goal of “World Peace, One Friend at a Time.”
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the Great Seal of the City of Sebastopol this 4th day of March, 2025.
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Stephen Zollman, Mayor