[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 26 (Monday, February 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H1495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            HONORING SWEDISH COMMUNITY OF LINDSBORG, KANSAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Marshall) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 150th 
anniversary of a town in my district, Lindsborg, Kansas, also known as 
Little Sweden.
  The town was originally settled in 1869 by hardworking Swedish 
farmers who, like my great-grandfather, had left Sweden because of the 
potato famine.
  These farmers were new to America and new to the landscape and 
climate of Kansas. Their goal was to establish a home and community 
rich in Swedish culture, religion, and business.
  Today, Lindsborg is a bright, vibrant community where retailers 
feature unique traditional Swedish treats and artwork; where visitors 
can walk up and down the streets and Main Street and find more than 15 
wild Dala horses painted to represent a unique piece of Lindsborg's 
culture. My own family often has one of these Dala horses in their 
entryway as folks enter their house.
  It is a community that is proud of its heritage and comes together to 
carry on a variety of Swedish festivals and traditions honoring its 
original settlers.
  I, myself, am one-quarter Swedish and very proud of this fact. 
Growing up, we kept many Swedish traditions in our family. We 
celebrated them whenever we had the occasion. Still today, our 
Christmas Eve dinners always feature various Swedish dishes, including 
pickled herring, anchovies, hardtack crackers, Swedish candies, and 
desserts. My mom, brother, and wife to this day enjoy their annual 
pilgrimage to Lindsborg to pick out their very special Swedish 
Christmas gifts.
  In 2010, I was able to take my mother back to Sweden, along with my 
oldest son and daughter, and view the home that my grandfather had 
built; the farm where they farmed; the fences they had built out of 
stone; the barns they had built out of stone, still functional and 
standing today; and the water well my great-grandfather had dug. All of 
those parts of the farm were still functioning.
  I was able to see the church where my great-grandfather and great-
grandmother were married and see the cemetery where many of our 
relatives are buried to this day. It is a trip I will never forget.
  I am very proud of my Swedish roots, and I am honored to represent 
Bethany College and the town of Lindsborg. This town will always have a 
very special place in my heart, and it is my honor to sponsor the 
resolution that celebrates this milestone for Lindsborg. I can't wait 
until this year's Messiah Festival, when we will get to watch them live 
there in Lindsborg.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to represent this Swedish community, 
something that will always represent so much to my family.

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