[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 34 (Thursday, February 23, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2148-H2149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PERMISSION TO INSERT PROGRAM AND REMARKS OF MEMBERS REPRESENTING THE 
            HOUSE AT GEORGE WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY CEREMONIES

  Mr. HORN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the program and 
the remarks of the gentleman from California [Mr. Horn] and the 
gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Richardson], the two Members 
representing the House of Representatives at the wreath-laying ceremony 
at the Washington Monument for the observance of George Washington's 
birthday on Wednesday, February 22, 1995, be inserted in today's 
Congressional Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
                 Remarks of the Honorable Stephen Horn


        george washington: a wise leader for an emerging nation

       I congratulate the members of the National Park Service, 
     not only on what you have done to preserve history in the 
     nation's capital, but what you have done throughout the 
     nation to give our fellow citizens, young and old, and 
     visitors to our shores a view of the past and to convey the 
     ideals of this nation which has given hope to those less 
     fortunate. You do a great job, and all Americans appreciate 
     it.
       When we think of George Washington we think of a person of 
     great character and presence. He was also a good listener, 
     but when he spoke, other people immediately stopped to listen 
     to what he had to say. He was a person of common sense. He 
     was a wise leader.
       He also had a sense of humor. Today in the United States 
     Senate, Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming will read the 
     Farewell Address of President Washington. That tradition of 
     the Senate reminds me that when Thomas Jefferson, who was not 
     at the Constitutional Convention, came back from France, he 
     visited his fellow Virginian and friend, George Washington, 
     at Mount Vernon. He said, ``George, you were President of the 
     Constitutional Convention, why did you ever create the Senate 
     of the United States?'' Washington looked at Jefferson and 
     said ``Tom, why are you pouring your tea into a saucer?'' 
     Jefferson answered, ``To cool it.'' ``Thus so,'' smiled 
     Washington, ``that is why we created the Senate.''
       Washington was an outstanding executive, both military and 
     civilian. He set the precedents for the office of the 
     Presidency. When you think of his cabinet, you see four men 
     of great talent: Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State; 
     Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury; General Henry 
     Knox, Secretary of War; and Edmund Randolph, Attorney 
     General. Few cabinets have had such overall distinction. Some 
     might equal it, but it would take ten or twelve people to 
     equal those four.
       In his wise and visionary Farewell Address to the nation, 
     which I mentioned earlier, Washington influenced the policy 
     of political parties in this country for over 150 years, when 
     he cautioned against permanent entangling alliances with 
     foreign nations.
       It was Washington's wisdom, his thoughtfulness, his 
     presence and character that set the foundation for a nation 
     that would expand from 13 small colonies, newly states, 
     westward across a continent. He had vision, and the 
     characteristics of great leaders. We honor him, with good 
     reason, on this day.
                                                                    ____

                Remarks of the Honorable Bill Richardson

       I am honored to join my colleague, the Honorable Stephen 
     Horn, Councilman Jack Evans, the Park Service and other 
     distinguished guests as we gather at the foot of this 
     imposing monument to honor our nation's first President.
       While local residents may grow accustomed to this huge 
     monument, those of us who come here from a far are awestruck 
     by it. We are taken back by its size and shape, its power and 
     the unbelievable view or vision it offers for those who 
     travel to its top. In fact, its size, its power and its 
     vision are very much like the man it recognizes and the man 
     we are honoring today.
       George Washington was so admired and revered that no man 
     challenged him for the office of the Presidency--Washington 
     is the only person to seek the office without opposition. His 
     two terms were a great success. He governed with dignity as 
     well as restraint. He provided stability and authority which 
     our young nation so sorely needed. He understood the need to 
     compromise and reach agreement with men of opposing views.
       One could easily argue that George Washington understood 
     the Presidency because as Chairman of the Constitutional 
     Convention he helped design our democracy. But, planning for 
     a democracy and instituting a democracy were two very 
     different tasks. Thankfully, George Washington was heroic at 
     both missions.
       In fact, George Washington was exceptional at many 
     endeavors. Long before his rise to military leader of the War 
     for Independence, he was a farm boy who had to grow up fast 
     after his father died when he was just 11 years old. He 
     taught himself surveying. Upon the death of his half-brother, 
     he became a land owner of Mount Vernon at age 20. He was an 
     active member of his community and his church. The rest, as 
     they say, is history.
       When compared to George Washington's 263rd birthday, we in 
     New Mexico are quite young. Our state is only celebrating our 
     83rd birthday this year. Even though we may be a bit younger 
     than our nation's founding father, we join our fellow states 
     and countrymen with great enthusiasm and praise in honoring 
     President Washington on this anniversary of his birth.
                                                                    ____


  President George Washington, 263d Birthday Observance, February 22, 
               1995, Washington Monument, Washington, DC


                                program

       Opening: Arnold Goldstein, Superintendent, National Capital 
     Parks-Central, National Park Service.
       Presentation of the Colors: Joint Armed Services Color 
     Guard.
       To the Colors: Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps; Drum Major 
     Anthony Hoxworth.
       Welcome: Superintendent Goldstein.
       Musical Selection: Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
       Remarks: Russell Train, First Vice President, Washington 
     National Monument Society; John Reynolds, Deputy Director, 
     National Park Service; The Honorable Jack Evans, 
     Councilmember Ward 2, Council of the District of Columbia; 
     The Honorable Stephen Horn, U.S. House of Representatives, 
     38th District, California; and The Honorable Bill Richardson, 
     U.S. House of Representatives, 3rd District, New Mexico.
       The Wreath of the House of Representatives: Honorable Bill 
     Richardson and Honorable Stephen Horn.
       The Wreath of the Washington National Monument Society: 
     Russell Train and Councilmember Jack Evans.
        [[Page H2149]] The Wreath of the National Park Service: 
     John Reynolds and Terry Carlstrom.
       The Wreath of the Naval Lodge No. 4, Masons of the District 
     of Columbia: John Davis, Worshipful Master.
       Taps and Retiring of the Colors: Old Guard Fife and Drum 
     Corps and Joint Armed Services Color Guard.
     

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