[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 49 (Thursday, April 5, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3461-S3462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, today is the beginning of the Tartan Day 
weekend, a time to be celebrated nationwide in honor of the millions of 
Scottish-Americans and their contribution to our Nation. In 1998, the 
Senate passed Resolution 155 recognizing April 6 as National Tartan 
Day, the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, signed on April 6, 
1320. On that day, a group of Scots declared their independence and 
stated, ``We fight not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, but only and 
alone we fight for freedom, which no good man surrenders, but with his 
life.'' Our own Declaration of Independence was impacted by the wording 
and spirit of this Declaration of Arbroath.
  Today, we begin the Tartan Day celebrations with a special ceremony 
at 11 a.m. on the West Steps of the Capitol. The William Wallace award 
will be presented to the distinguished actor, film star, and 
benefactor, Sir Sean Connery.

[[Page S3462]]

  In celebration of Tartan Day, it was a pleasure to have The Rev. 
Campbell Gillon as the guest Chaplain and give our opening prayer this 
morning. Mr. Gillon is a native Scot who has served as the pastor of 
the Georgetown Presbyterian Church for 20 years. Our own Chaplain, Dr. 
Lloyd Ogilvie, who also serves as president of the St. Andrews Society 
of Washington, is the organizer of the Tartan Day Celebration here at 
the Capitol today. It's good to see both our Chaplain and the guest 
Chaplain in their tartan kilts. They are ready for a great day and 
weekend for the Scots. I'm proud of my own Scots heritage through the 
Watson clan and look forward to the ceremony this morning.
  I will join our Chaplain and the guest Chaplain soon, as will my son 
and I am sure many other Senators of Scottish ancestry. This will be a 
great day, a great weekend for all Scots, both in America and in 
Scotland.
  I want to make the Senate aware of the special occasion. Amongst all 
these amendments and this great debate of the budget resolution, I am 
sure the spirit of the Declaration of Arbroath will be felt throughout 
the day.

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