[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING THE CITY OF LEBANON, TENNESSEE, ON ITS BICENTENNIAL 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN W. ROSE

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 19, 2019

  Mr. JOHN W. ROSE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
recognize the City of Lebanon, Tennessee, in honor of its 200th 
anniversary. Lebanon is the county seat of Wilson County, located just 
east of Nashville.
   Lebanon was formed in 1802 and officially incorporated on November 
23, 1819. The city's name derives from the area's countless Eastern Red 
Cedar trees, reminiscent of Mount Lebanon's famous cedar forests 
described in the Bible.
   With approximately 35,000 residents, Lebanon demonstrates what it 
means to be a tight-knit community. This town was built on a solid 
foundation of hard work and family values, and it has continued to show 
these unwavering attributes over the course of its 200-year history.
   Lebanon is home to a number of sites listed in the National Register 
of Historic Places and is a certified Tennessee Main Street program. 
The Historic Public Square maintains its longstanding charm with 
beloved sites like the Capitol Theatre, while still serving as a hub 
for industry and business through the Lebanon-Wilson County Chamber of 
Commerce, located in the heart of the Main Street District.
   Countless successful businesses call Lebanon ``home,'' including the 
corporate headquarters of Cracker Barrel, America's ``Old Country 
Store.'' The city's many local businesses benefit from the unique 
opportunities afforded through Lebanon's own Municipal Airport, which 
provides easy access for industry and trade.
   Lebanon is the longtime home of Cumberland University, founded in 
1842. The four-year private institution has an enrollment over 2,500 
students and 110 academic programs.
   The city of Lebanon is also home to Cedars of Lebanon State Park. 
The park boasts 1,139 beautiful acres and welcomes visitors from across 
the country to enjoy its eight miles of hiking trails and 117 
campsites.
   Tennessee's largest fair, the nationally-known Wilson County Fair, 
is hosted in Lebanon at the James E. Ward Agriculture Center. Families 
from across Tennessee--and the entire country--journey to Lebanon to 
participate in the annual tradition.
   The city is also the proud home of the Wilson County Veterans Museum 
and Plaza, which forever memorializes those from Wilson County who have 
served our great country. A true treasure, the museum honors the 
service of our veterans and preserves countless artifacts dating back 
to World War I.
   I hope my House colleagues will join me in celebrating this 
bicentennial achievement of Lebanon, Tennessee. The town and its 
residents have continued to show the strong faith and values of 
Tennessee since the days when its first public square was built over 
the Town Spring. I wish Lebanon and its citizens much prosperity and 
happiness over the next 200 years and beyond.

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