[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF ARCADIA, WISCONSIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Sesquicentennial 
celebration of Arcadia, one of Wisconsin's many treasures. Named after 
the Arkadhia Mountains in Greece, Arcadia boasts an historic downtown 
in the midst of some of the most beautiful farmland and countryside in 
western Wisconsin.
  It is fitting that I join with the 2,400 residents of Arcadia to 
celebrate the town's founding, because this truly is a town that has 
not forgotten where it came from. Perhaps Arcadia's most storied 
attraction is its Memorial Park. The park's 54 acres display monuments 
and tributes to the town's history, our nation's wars and conflicts, 
and those men and women who fought and died in them. The walkway 
through the park is measured so that each meter represents one year, so 
visitors complete their own guided tour of history. Joining the 
statues, plaques, and monuments are some of the real instruments of 
war: a tank, a Howitzer artillery gun, and an F-16 fighter jet. The 
dedication shown in procuring these artifacts and the endless care that 
go into maintaining the grounds demonstrate that the spirit of America 
runs through Arcadia.
  Apart from Memorial Park, Arcadia exemplifies the quality of life 
available to those who call rural America home. The Trempeleau River, 
which flows to the Mississippi, offers opportunities for fishing and 
canoeing, eagle-watching is popular year-round, and stock car races are 
held every Friday in the warmer months at the Fox Ridge Speedway. The 
town also hosts the Arcadia Broiler Dairy Days celebration over 
Memorial Day Weekend, which includes the 62-mile Memorial Bike Tour. 
This vibrant community truly is a model for rural areas across the 
state of Wisconsin and America, proving that a city doesn't have to be 
big to be creative, exciting, and fun.
  A giant corn maze in town already announces the sesquicentennial 
celebration, which will be held this Saturday, September 10, 2005. 
Arcadia will mark its first 150 years with such events as the 
dedication of a local firefighters memorial, a classic car rally, and 
the entombing of a time capsule to remind future generations of this 
great milestone. I congratulate the residents of Arcadia on their 
sesquicentennial, and I thank them for all they have contributed to the 
character and economy of western Wisconsin. I wish them continued 
happiness and prosperity in the next 150 years.

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