[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11692-S11693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL

 Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I speak in support of legislation 
that passed the Senate unanimously last evening to establish the CAPT 
John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
  This House legislation, championed by my Virginia colleague, 
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis, and supported by many in the Chesapeake Bay 
watershed, is the companion to S.2568, introduced by Senators Sarbanes, 
Allen, Mikulski, Carper, Biden, Santorum, Specter, and myself. It 
establishes the first all-water trail in the National Park Service 
trail system. This trail commemorates Captain John Smith's 2,300-mile 
voyages to explore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in 1607-1609, 
and will become an important component of our national ceremonies next 
year to mark the 400th anniversary of the establishment of Jamestown in 
1607.
  Events to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, the first 
permanent English settlement in America, will remind Americans that 
Jamestown was the birthplace of representative democracy, religious 
freedom, free enterprise, and as distinguished by the voyages of John 
Smith, the spirit of exploration. The cornerstone of this year-long 
commemoration is to tell the complete story of the convergence of three 
cultures at Jamestown between Europeans, Native Americans, and African 
Americans.

[[Page S11693]]

  Central to understanding the first encounters between the English and 
Virginia native tribes, and the bounty of the bay that sustained the 
early settlers are John Smith's diaries. It is those diaries that give 
a first-hand account of the interaction of the English with Native 
American tribes throughout the bay during Smith's journeys. Captain 
Smith also wrote in vivid detail about the living resources of the bay, 
the abundance of shellfish, finfish, and other species, as his small 
group traveled in their 28-foot shallop.
  Many people and organizations deserve credit for their work to 
advance the concept of a national water trail. Principal among these 
are Patrick Noonan, chairman emeritus of the Conservation Fund, and 
Gilbert Grosvenor, chairman of the board of the National Geographic 
Society. They had the vision to see that a new national trail to mark 
John Smith's travels of the Chesapeake bay would foster renewed 
interest in early colonial history, highlight the importance of 
geography and the bay's natural resources in sustaining life, broaden 
our understanding of the contributions of Native American tribes, 
stimulate heritage tourism, and expand educational efforts to restore 
the Bay's ecosystem.
  The Conservation Fund and the National Geographic Society's steadfast 
support, and dedication of resources to this effort created a 
partnership that ensured our success. I speak on behalf of all 
Virginians, and lovers of the bay to say a warm and heartfelt thank 
you.
  I also thank my colleagues for their support of this legislation, and 
extend my personal appreciation to my friend and colleague, Senator 
Sarbanes, for his leadership on this issue and for the many courtesies 
he has extended to me over the years. He has been an effective working 
partner over the years as we have worked on issues important to the 
Metropolitan Washington region.
  As America prepares for the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, this new 
national trail will connect Americans to one of the earliest chapters 
of our heritage, allowing us to retrace the paddle strokes and 
footsteps of CAPT John Smith, to relive what he experienced some 400 
years ago, and to give us a new avenue to enjoy and preserve the 
Bay.

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