[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 27, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S10518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SUBMITTED RESOLUTION

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 252--RECOGNIZING THE BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF 
  ZEBULON MONTGOMERY PIKE'S EXPLORATIONS IN THE INTERIOR WEST OF THE 
                             UNITED STATES

  Mr. SALAZAR (for himself and Mr. Allard) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 252

       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike was born January 5, 1779, 
     in Lamberton, New Jersey, to a military family, which quickly 
     was on the move across the Nation with Pike growing up on 
     frontier military posts;
       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike served the United States 
     with distinction, initially as a commissioned First 
     Lieutenant in the First Infantry Regiment of the United 
     States Army, later as a Captain, further as a Colonel of the 
     15th Regiment during the War of 1812, and ultimately as a 
     Brigadier General in 1813;
       Whereas in July of 1806, Zebulon Montgomery Pike was given 
     the assignment of leading an expedition west from present-day 
     St. Louis, Missouri, up the Arkansas River to its source in 
     the highest of the Rocky Mountains, then into Colorado's San 
     Luis Valley;
       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike and his expedition traveled 
     through the present day states of Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, 
     and Colorado observing the geography, natural history, and 
     population of the country through which he passed;
       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike and his expedition reached 
     the site of present day Pueblo, Colorado on November 23, 
     1806, and, fascinated with a blue peak in the Rocky Mountains 
     to the west, Pike set out to explore the mountain;
       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike was prevented from 
     completing the ascent due to waist-deep snow, inadequate 
     clothing, and sub-zero temperatures, and so chose to turn 
     back for the safety of his expedition;
       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike never set foot on ``Pike's 
     Peak'' but did contribute significantly to the interior 
     west's early exploration through the headwaters of the 
     Arkansas River;
       Whereas Zebulon Montgomery Pike and his expedition found 
     the area of present day Great Sand Dunes National Park in 
     Colorado and the headwaters of the Rio Grande, which he 
     mistakenly thought was the Red River; and
       Whereas on April 27, 1813, Zebulon Montgomery Pike died in 
     valiant service to his country, leading an attack on York, 
     later to become Toronto, during the War of 1812: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the year 2006 as the 200th anniversary of 
     Zebulon Montgomery Pike's discoveries throughout the American 
     West; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     and celebrate his contributions to our Nation's history with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities throughout the year.

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