[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 116 (Friday, September 6, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1249-E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN HENDERSONVILLE, TENNESSEE 
                            AND TSURU, JAPAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DIANE BLACK

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2013

  Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, this year, Hendersonville, Tennessee 
celebrates thirty years of friendship with its sister city, Tsuru, 
Japan. At a time when news headlines each day remind us of discord 
among other nations, the lasting relationship between these two cities 
stands as a reminder that when individuals and communities reach out 
across cultural boundaries, they can build meaningful bonds that stand 
the test of time.
  First established on May 18, 1983 by former Hendersonville mayor T.W. 
Patterson and former Tsuru mayor Michimasa Tahabe, this relationship 
has truly lived up to its original purpose: ``To serve as a perpetual 
symbol for mutual hospitality for the exchange of ideas and visitors 
between the cities of Tsuru and Hendersonville, and as a welcoming 
beacon to travelers from both communities.''
  The Tsuru-Hendersonville relationship has yielded many years of 
student exchange trips and delegation visits from parents, teachers, 
and community leaders that have enhanced the lives of our cities' 
people. Host families in both countries have generously opened up their 
homes to visitors and learned from their unique experiences.
  Later this month, city officials, civic group representatives, local 
students, and members of the Tsuru-Hendersonville Friendship Committee 
will travel to Tsuru, Japan, to commemorate this special anniversary. 
As they join together with the Tsuru people to celebrate three decades 
of honor and goodwill, I join them in wishing for a prosperous future 
for both communities and many years of continued friendship.

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