[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 UTAH CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF STATEHOOD

  (Mr. ORTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ORTON. Mr. Speaker, today I join my fellow Utahns in celebrating 
Utah's Statehood Centennial. One hundred years ago, on January 4, 1896, 
my home State of Utah became the 45th State in the Union.
  Utah had spent nearly 50 years attempting to become a State, and had 
been turned down six times by 1896. But the patriotic and pioneering 
spirit of those who settled in the Utah territory prevailed, and the 
news of the long sought after statehood was received with great 
rejoicing and enthusiasm as thousands of citizens participated in 
parades and celebrations on that cold January morning, celebrations 
being reenacted in Utah today.
  Over the past 100 years, citizens of Utah have served our great 
Nation with distinction through military, government, civic, and 
religious activities.
  Today, Utah enjoys the strongest economy and is among the most 
rapidly growing States in the Nation. It is without prejudice that we 
declare Utah to be the greatest place on Earth.
  It is my honor to serve the people of Utah in this, the people's 
House of Representatives. Today, we in the Congress honor the 
contributions which Utahns have made to our Nation over the past 
century and look forward with great anticipation to the opportunities 
of service to one another in the next century.

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