[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              ESTABLISHING NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 280, 
legislation to create the National Aviation Heritage Area and urge my 
colleagues to support its passage. H.R. 280 includes as one of its 
sections, my bill, H.R. 1594, to provide for a suitability and 
feasibility study of establishing a St. Croix National Heritage Area in 
the United States Virgin Islands.
  The island of St. Croix has a long, distinguished, and varied 
history, including being the site where Christopher Columbus first 
stepped onto what is now American soil. There is significant interest 
in preserving and enhancing the natural, historical and cultural 
resources of the island on a cooperative basis and such a study would 
provide guidance on how we can best achieve those purposes.
  National Heritage areas are places where natural, cultural, 
historical and recreational resources combine to form a nationally 
distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by 
geography.
  While each island can make a good case for designation, the island of 
St. Croix with its two historic towns--Christiansted built in 1734 and 
Frederiksted built in 1752--is richly blessed with all of the 
attributes that would justify this designation.
  The town's historic architecture matured over a 100-year period. The 
town of Christiansted is one of the finest examples of Danish 
architectural designs in this hemisphere. Its history can be traced 
back some 4,000 years to 2500 BC.
  In 1493 Columbus arrived at what is now the Salt River National 
Historic Park and Ecological Preserve, making it the only site under 
the American flag where his men went ashore, as well as the first 
recorded hostile encounter between Europeans and Native Americans.
  Frederiksted has the distinction of having been the first 
jurisdiction to have raised its flag in salute of the new republic of 
the United States of America, and indeed the first designed flag was 
done by a resident of that island.
  Among the many strong ties of great national significance between St. 
Croix and the United States, perhaps the most significant one is that 
this island was the boyhood home of Alexander Hamilton, and where he 
began to develop the skills employed as the first Secretary of the 
Treasury of this country.
  I want to thank Full Committee Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall 
as well as Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich for their support is 
getting H.R. 1594 and H.R. 280 to the floor of the House today.
  My colleagues, H.R. 1549 is a good bill, which could serve as a 
catalyst for reinvigorating the lagging tourism sector on St. Croix. I 
urge its adoption.

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