[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO MR. CLAUDE BURPEE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 2002

  Mr. DUCAN. Mr. Speaker, very few people alive today can say they knew 
someone who met President Abraham Lincoln. However, Mr. Claude Burpee 
of Maryville, Tennessee can. In fact, he can even say he shook the same 
hand that shook the hand of President Lincoln.
  When Mr. Burpee was in elementary school, he had the opportunity to 
meet a Civil War veteran who was honored by Mr. Lincoln during the war.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Mr. Burpee for his unique connection to 
arguably our Nation's most admired President.
  I have included a copy of a story written in the Maryville Daily 
Times that further explains Mr. Burpee's story that I would like to 
call to the attention of my colleagues and other readers of the Record.

       [lsqb]From the Maryville Daily Times, Feb. 13, 1991[rsqb]

              Maryville Man Recalls Handy Link to Lincoln

                          (By Adele McKenzie)

       An event of 53 years ago is alive today in the memory of 
     Claude Burpee of Maryville. The happening was a reward as a 
     student for making good grades and the privilege of shaking a 
     hand that had many years earlier shaken the hand of President 
     Abraham Lincoln.
       Elijah Sanborn, who was then in his early 90's, had served 
     in the Union Army as a youth of 16 or 17 during the Civil 
     War. For a heroic deed, he received a citation which was 
     presented by President Lincoln, who also shook his hand.
       Sanborn lived in Acton, Maine, where Burpee was one of 25 
     to 30 students, grades 1 through 8, attending a one-room 
     school taught by one male teacher. ``One of our incentives 
     for making good grades was the great honor of being able to 
     shake the hand of this hero--Elijah Sanborn,'' remembers 
     Burpee.
       As far as Brupee knows, he is the last person living who 
     attended Acton School and had this honor.
       Children of today probably would not consider this event of 
     any significance, but 53 years ago it was something to be 
     proud of says Burpee.
       He also remembers the old soldier quoting Lincoln as having 
     said: ``Don't let your schooling get in the way of your 
     learning.''
       Two years ago, Burpee visited Maine and was delighted to 
     find his old school, well taken care of and serving another 
     role. Built in 1814, it is now the town library.
       After serving in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Marine 
     Corps in World War II, Burpee spent 25 years in California 
     following his career as a locksmith.
       Advancing years and declining health of the parents of his 
     wife, Wanda Joy, brought the Burpees to Tennessee 14 years 
     ago to assist with their care. Burpee said he learned that 
     Blount County was in need of a locksmith and so they chose 
     Maryville as their home to be near their relatives who live 
     at Mascot.
       ``Maryville has treated me well, and I've made a good 
     living here. One couldn't find a nicer place to live,'' he 
     said.
       Selling his business two years ago, Burpee has devoted much 
     of his time to work with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) 
     serving presently as commander of Blount County DAV Chapter 
     76 and as alternate commander of the East Tennessee Division 
     of DAV. Burpee is also a member of Blount County Memorial 
     Post 5154 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Capt. Emerson J. Lones 
     Post 13 American Legion.