[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN HONOR OF NANCY A. NELSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NIKI TSONGAS

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 3, 2017

  Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, each year nearly one million people visit 
Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts, the home 
to the ``shot heard round the world'' and the birthplace of the 
American Revolution. Since 1993, Superintendent Nancy A. Nelson has 
been the steward of Minute Man; a guardian of its substantial history 
and a visionary that has helped illuminate the past for millions and 
millions of visitors.
   Upon Nancy's retirement on January 3, 2017, the National Park 
Service will lose one of its most dedicated and passionate officials. 
However, Nancy's influence will remain visible and tangible for many 
years to come. Under Nancy's supervision, Minute Man NPS underwent 
extraordinary changes: visitor facilities were modernized, public use 
was expanded and numerous historic structures were rehabilitated. She 
focused on changing the landscape of the park, refreshing the grounds 
and making efficient use of its buildings. Her efforts have enabled a 
new generation of Americans to fully experience one of our country's 
most important moments in time.
   Nancy dedicated herself to a lifetime of public service. During her 
39-year career with the National Park Service, Nancy served in myriad 
positions across the organization, from Landscape Architect to 
Environmental Protection Specialist, to Superintendent of Minute Man 
National Historical Park. After working closely with Nancy for many 
years, I am profoundly appreciative of her unmatched commitment to 
historic preservation and education, and her years of effective and 
impactful leadership. Her leadership as Superintendent will be missed 
here in Massachusetts and at the National Park Service.
   I extend my sincerest thanks and congratulations to Nancy on behalf 
of a grateful nation, and I am confident that even in retirement she 
will remain a staunch advocate for preserving our national treasures, a 
mission on which I look forward to continuing to work with her.

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