[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 25, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

  Mr. ARCHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the program and 
the remarks of the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella], the Member 
representing the House of Representatives at the wreath-laying ceremony 
at the Washington Monument for the observance of George Washington's 
birthday on Thursday, February 20, 1997, be inserted in today's 
Congressional Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.

                     A Tribute to George Washington

                   (By Congresswoman Connie Morella)

       Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen.
       We gather here today at this monument in this great federal 
     city of Washington to honor George Washington, the father and 
     founder of our country. He was a soldier, a nation builder, 
     and a statesman--and, thanks to that mythmaker Parson Weems, 
     a man who could never tell a lie.
       As every school child knows, along with that cherry tree 
     tale, Washington was Commander-in-Chief of the Continental 
     Armies, and led the American colonies in their war of 
     revolution against the British Crown.
       For eight long years, through many defeats and hardships, 
     Washington led his army of farmers, shopkeepers, and 
     backwoodsmen against the mighty forces of King George III. 
     Many doubted he would succeed, but he stayed the course, 
     never wavering until finally the British were defeated and 
     American independence was won.
       (As an aside, I have to remind all the Virginians present 
     that Maryland too has a certain connection to Washington. 
     Monumentally and personally.)
       I would like to point out that most of the marble facing 
     for the monument came from Maryland--with a little help from 
     Massachusetts!
       As a Marylander, I am very proud to also point out that 
     General Washington, after saying goodbye to his officers in 
     New York City, traveled to Annapolis, Maryland, where the 
     Congress was sitting. Two days before Christmas in 1783, 
     Washington resigned as Commander-in-chief ``with satisfaction 
     the Appointment I accepted with diffidence. . . Having now 
     finished the work assigned me, I now retire from the great 
     theater of Action.''
       Or so he thought.
       Washington hoped to return to his beloved Mount Vernon, 
     there to resume his life as a country gentleman and farmer. 
     But, as we all know, our struggling young country needed him 
     again, and again he answered the call to serve: to ensure our 
     newly won independence, to help transform the government of 
     the new nation from the Articles of Confederation to the 
     Constitution, and then to led the new republic through its 
     earliest days as its President.
       Incidentally, a few of our Founding Fathers were rather 
     smitten by royalty. In fact, John Adams proposed that we call 
     our chief executive ``High Royal Highness, the President of 
     the United States, and the Protector of the Liberties of the 
     States.'' How's that for a title? Fortunately, Washington 
     prevailed, and the title became simply ``Mr. President''!
       Today, we search for role models, for leaders whose 
     steadfastness, character, and selflessness will inspire our 
     children to be good citizens, to use their talents in the 
     service of their communities and country. My friends, we 
     serve our children and grandchildren well when we celebrate 
     the life and career of George Washington.
       In 1814, fifteen years after Washington's death, Thomas 
     Jefferson reflected upon his friend, our Friend President:
       ``His mind was great and powerful, . . . no judgment was 
     ever sounder. . . . Perhaps the strongest feature in his 
     character was prudence, never acting until every 
     circumstance, every consideration, was maturely weighed, 
     refraining if he saw a doubt, but, when once decided, going 
     through with his purpose. . . . His integrity was most pure, 
     his justice the most inflexible I have ever known. . . . He 
     was indeed, in every sense of the words, a wise, a good, and 
     a great man.''
       Ladies and gentlemen, I can add nothing more.

                      PRESIDENT GEORGE WASHINGTON


                       265th birthday observance

Thursday, February 20, 1997, 11:00 am, Washington Monument, Washington, 
                                  DC.


                                program

       Opening: Arnold Goldstein, Superintendent, National Capital 
     Parks Central.
       Presentation of Colors: Joint Armed Services Color Guard.
       To the Colors: Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
       Pledge of Allegiance: Cub Scout Stephen Strenio, Cub Scout 
     Pack 461, Bethesda, Maryland.
       Welcome: Superintendent Goldstein.
       Musical Selection: Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.
       Remarks: Russell Train, First Vice President, Washington 
     National Monument Society.
       Remarks: Terry Carlstrom, Acting Regional Director, 
     National Capital Region, National Park Service.
       Remarks: Honorable Constance Morella, Maryland Eighth 
     District, U.S. House of Representatives.
       Presentation of the Wreaths: The Wreath of the U.S. House 
     of Representatives, Honorable Constance Morella. The Wreath 
     of the Washington National Monument Society, Russell Train. 
     The Wreath of the National Park Service, Terry Carlstrom.


                                  taps

retiring of the colors

                          ____________________