[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 27, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E449]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL AND THE CENTENNIAL 
                              CELEBRATION

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2012

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask the House of Representatives 
to join me in recognizing the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the 
Centennial Celebration, commemorating the 100-year anniversary of the 
gift of trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and 
Japan.
  Each year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival heralds the coming of 
spring and produces diverse and creative programming promoting 
traditional and contemporary arts and culture, natural beauty, and 
community spirit, showcasing the best of Washington, DC to the world.
  More than one hundred years ago, the combined vision of unlikely 
partners led to the world-renowned majestic cherry trees that line the 
Tidal Basin in our nation's capital. Eliza Scidmore, the National 
Geographic Society's first female board member, Dr. David Fairchild of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, First Lady Helen Herron Taft, Mayor 
Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, and Dr. Jokichi Takamine, goodwill ambassador, 
world-famous chemist, and the founder of Sankyo Co., Ltd. (today known 
as Daiichi Sankyo), all worked together to bestow Washington, DC with 
more than 3,000 cherry trees in 1912. This gesture of goodwill was 
honored in a simple ceremony on March 27, 1912, when First Lady Taft 
and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the 
first two trees at the Tidal Basin. Today, the trees are a national 
treasure enjoyed by millions, and, as First Lady Taft envisioned, a 
wonderful backdrop for cultural and community events of all kinds.
  Today, the National Cherry Blossom Festival unites the region for 
over one million visitors each spring, who look forward to signature 
events like the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, world-class 
entertainment, cultural performances and more, primarily free and open 
to the public. Our Nation's greatest cultural institutions participate, 
including the National Gallery of Art, The Kennedy Center, and 
Smithsonian, with over 50 area organizations participating in total.
  The National Cherry Blossom Festival greatly benefits the nation's 
capital. The Festival generates over $126 million annually for 
Washington, DC, and has received many accolades and international 
recognition.
  Among the many special commemorative initiatives to mark the historic 
Centennial Celebration, the Government of Japan has designated the 
Centennial Celebration an official anniversary event. The United States 
Postal Service has issued Cherry Blossom Centennial Forever stamps, and 
the American Bus Association has named the Centennial Celebration the 
top event for group travel in 2012. Millions of people have enjoyed the 
National Cherry Blossom Festival, and millions will continue to create 
cherished memories here in the years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
recognizing the work of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the 
message of peace, friendship, and international understanding it 
carries on each year during the Nation's greatest springtime 
celebration.

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