[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 78 (Tuesday, June 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORARY U.S. CITIZENSHIP FOR LEIF ERICSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN OLAV SABO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 16, 1998

  Mr. SABO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce a resolution to 
grant honorary United States citizenship to the Norse navigator and 
explorer, Leif Ericson.
  Leif Ericson played a vital role in the European discovery of our 
continent. It is a role that, over the years, has not been widely 
recognized. Within the past 30 years, new historical evidence has 
surfaced to show that Leif Ericson landed in North America around 1000 
A.D., almost 500 years prior to Christopher Columbus' arrival in the 
New World.
  Leif Ericson was born around 970 A.D. in Greenland, son of the famous 
warrior, explorer, and discoverer of Greenland, ``Eric the Red.'' There 
are two traditional accounts of Leif Ericson's discovery of America. 
However, the one that is best upheld by recent evidence states that a 
contemporary of Leif's, Bjarni Herjolfsson, chanced upon America after 
drifting off course. Bjarni did not land in the New World, but upon his 
return to Greenland, he described his course to Leif. Following 
Herjolfsson's course, Leif later landed in North America. He named the 
new land ``Vinland,'' after the plentiful supply of grapes he found 
there. He built a small settlement and spent the winter in Vinland 
before he returned to Greenland.
  At the end of his career, Leif Ericson settled on his father's estate 
in Brattahlid, Greenland, where he lived until he died. It is rumored 
that he is buried in an unmarked grave in the Brattahlid cemetery.
  I offer this resolution as a tribute to the pioneering spirit of Leif 
Ericson, and as a symbol of the virtues of courage and perseverance we 
all must embody in order to accomplish our goals.
  I also offer this resolution in recognition of the Leif Ericson 
Millennium Committee (LEMC), a non-profit organization whose founder 
and president, Ivar Christensen, has devoted his life to gaining 
recognition of Leif Ericson's voyage and Viking settlements in North 
America around 1000 A.D. Since its inception, the LEMC has enlisted 
several Honorary Members, established a ``working'' Board of Directors, 
trademarked a logo, gathered preliminary information on Viking 
Celebrations throughout North America, and is now planning how to 
realize the objectives for the Millennium Celebration.
  Finally, I also offer this resolution to honor all Americans of 
Scandinavian descent. For generations, they have proven themselves 
brave and loyal Americans, carrying on the tradition of courage and 
exploration started by their Norse ancestors, including Leif Ericson.
  It is only appropriate that we recognize the importance of Leif 
Ericson by making him an honorary citizen of the United States, a small 
tribute for his contributions to our society.

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