[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 56 (Thursday, April 2, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ADMIRAL ROBERT E. PEARY AND MATTHEW 
                   HENSON'S ARRIVAL AT THE NORTH POLE

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                        HON. MICHAEL M. McMAHON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 2, 2009

  Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th 
anniversary of Admiral Robert E. Peary and Matthew Henson becoming the 
first documented explorers to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909.
  Admiral Peary and Matthew Henson through careful planning, foresight, 
and extreme fortitude reached the North Pole through great danger and 
peril to themselves. Where many men had failed and perished, these two 
men succeeded.
  Completing their mission took over eighteen years and was delayed, 
hampered, and restarted many times. Through all the failures and 
hardships these two brave men would not allow adversity or 
disappointment to keep them from their goal.
  Their path to the North Pole was long and arduous, but through 
ingenuity and with help from the Native Inuit, they managed to plant 
the American flag at the North Pole and survive the trip back.
  Peary and Henson had made previous trips north before their ultimate 
success. They suffered through the arctic cold and they even needed to 
turn back because of the rough weather.
  Despite not reaching the North Pole on these previous attempts, they 
had voyaged further north than any men in recorded history.
  While pursuing his dream of reaching the North Pole, Peary was on 
leave from the United States Navy where he was a civil engineer. Upon 
successful completion of his eighth and final expedition, he was 
promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral.
  Matthew Henson's contributions to the success of the exploration 
remained obscured and ignored for many years. His eventual induction 
into the Explorer's Club and acknowledgement by President Eisenhower 
can be recognized again by celebrating this important anniversary.
  Admiral Robert Peary and Matthew Henson achieved their dreams and 
proved to America and the rest of the world that we can accomplish 
anything if we put our minds, hearts, and souls into it. Their drive 
and hard work still shine as an example to us all.
  I am proud today to honor Admiral Robert Peary and Matthew Henson.

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