[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1855-E1856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO HERB AND CHARLOTTE REED

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, September 28, 1996

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, one of the remarkable qualities of 
Indiana's First Congressional District is the harmony between its 
massive industries and its exquisite natural treasures. One of the 
northwest Indiana's jewels is the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 
[IDNL] on the shores of Lake Michigan. Two outstanding individuals, who 
have dedicated their lives to successfully preserving the beauty of 
northwest Indiana, are Herb and Charlotte Reed. Herb and Charlotte are 
two of a select few people in the country to be named ``American 
Heros'' for their work to protect our national public lands.
  Herb's direct involvement with the Indiana Dunes began in 1952, when 
he joined the Save the Dunes Council. Save the Dunes was formed to 
establish a dunes national park, as well as to preserve the Indiana 
Dunes, which were threatened by powerful political and economic 
interests trying to industrialize all of Indiana's Lake Michigan 
shoreline. As a result of the fine work of the Save the Dunes Council, 
the 5,800-acre Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore was established in 
1966. Today, the park consists of approximately 15,000 acres, 2,182 of 
which are located in Indiana Dunes State Park and managed by the 
Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
  In 1966, Charlotte joined the fight after Congress agreed to 
authorize the IDNL. She served as one of the very first park rangers 
and later became the Save the Dunes Council's first paid staffer. Since 
that time, Charlotte served as the Council's executive director from 
1974 to 1992, and she currently serves as its assistant executive 
director.
  Over the years, Herb and Charlotte have been actively involved in 
several other environmental organizations. In the late 1950's, Herb 
founded the Porter County Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, which is 
one of the region's strongest voices for environmental action. 
Charlotte is cofounder of the Hoosier Environmental Council.
  Charlotte is a recipient of the Indiana Department of Environmental 
Management's [IDEM] Environmental Impact Award. She was chosen for this 
honor as a result of her advocacy on behalf of environmental protection 
issues during IDEM's formative years. Herb and Charlotte have both been 
recognized by several organizations for their joint efforts to preserve 
our natural treasures. Awards bestowed upon them include the 1990 Gold 
Cup Award from the Hoosier Environmental Council, the 1991 Gold Cup 
Award from the Hoosier Sierra Club, and two industry-sponsored awards.

[[Page E1856]]

  As a result of the Reeds' work, a State and national park will 
forever protect 15,000 acres of Indiana's dunes, home to giant sand 
dunes, river forests, prairie lands, and bogs. The national lakeshore 
contains 1,400 plant species--only four national parks contain more 
plant diversity.
  Herb and Charlotte Reed are dear friends and successful environmental 
activists. I cannot say enough about this exalted couple. Their efforts 
to create the national lakeshore in Indiana will forever remain a large 
part of the history of Indiana's First Congressional District. It seems 
only fitting that Herb and Charlotte live in a cabin enveloped by the 
national lakeshore. It is from this vantage point that they fought 
their four-decade war for the dunes, while at the same time raised 
their five wonderful children.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending Herb and Charlotte for their commitment and valiant 
efforts to protect and preserve the environment for generations to 
come. Herb and Charlotte Reed are, indeed, living legends.

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