[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 34 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CONGRATULATIONS TO TARA LYNN POE

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today to honor and 
congratulate Tara Lynn Poe of Paris, KY. Ms. Poe was recently crowned 
the 2002 Kentucky Cherry Blossom Princess and will serve as ambassador 
for Kentucky in the historic 90th Cherry Blossom Festival to be held 
here in our Nation's capital March 30 through April 6.
  In 1912, a prominent group of citizens in Japan graciously donated 
about 3,000 cherry blossom trees, which are not native to North 
America, to Washington, DC as a symbol of friendship between the United 
States and Japan. First Lady Helen Herron Taft, who had briefly lived 
in Yokohama, Japan, decided to bring the beauty of Japan to the then 
swampy Tidal Basin. Mrs. Taft, along with Vicountess Chinda, wife of 
the Japanese Ambassador, planted the first two trees on March 27, 1912 
in West Potomac Park. These 89 year old trees are still living on the 
Tidal Basin today. By 1939, State societies across the Nation were 
recruiting capable and accomplished female college students to be 
cherry blossom princesses to represent their respective States in the 
ceremonies and festival parade. The events were and still remain an 
attempt to educate young women about the history and political makeup 
of various cultures around the world. Although the festivities 
experienced a slight delay with the outbreak of WWII in 1941, they soon 
regained their grandeur in 1948 and were able to help foster the 
healing process between the United States and Japan. More than 2,500 
students have participated in the cherry blossom princess program since 
1948.
  As a proud representative of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in this 
year's Cherry Blossom Festival, Tara Lynn Poe, a freshman at Centre 
College in Danville, KY, will have the unique opportunity to personally 
meet with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. She will be 
presenting them with a copy of a children's book by Lexington author 
Paul Brett Johnson for the library foundation. Furthermore, Tara will 
have the chance to learn from and with her fellow princesses and all 
involved in the festival about Japan and other countries, international 
relations, and American culture, politics, and history. On April 5th by 
a random spin of the wheel, Tara will be eligible to be crowned this 
year's Cherry Blossom Queen and if selected will be invited to visit 
Japan, where she will be hosted by local dignitaries, including the 
Japanese Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Japanese Diet.
  Kentuckians should be proud to have Tara Lynn Poe representing the 
Commonwealth in the Cherry Blossom Festival and I wish her the best in 
all of her future pursuits.

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