[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 20, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                       HONORING THE CITY OF MENNO

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I honor and publicly recognize the 
125th anniversary of the founding of the city of Menno, SD. The city of 
Menno has a proud past and a promising future.
  The area that was to become the city of Menno was settled in 1874 by 
a group of Black Sea Germans from Russia. The great majority of 
settlers made their living off the land. According to a U.S. Government 
survey, Menno and the land surrounding it is made up of some of the 
richest most fertile soil in the country. Menno owes its beginnings to 
the railroad industry, which brought much-needed commerce.
  The city of Menno bears the name intended for the town of Freeman, 10 
miles away. When railroad officials were nailing the signs bearing the 
names of new towns to the depots, the name boards of the neighboring 
towns of Menno and Freeman were accidentally interchanged. With the 
result that Menno derives its name from the large settlement of 
Mennonites at Freeman, called Mennonites because the sect was founded 
by Menno Simons, while the town of Freeman is named for an early 
settler of Menno. The city of Menno was officially settled in 1879.
  Currently, more than 800 people live in Menno. The city has already 
started celebrations for its 125th anniversary and will continue them 
throughout the year. It is with great honor that I advise my colleagues 
of the achievements made by this great community.

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