[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H9740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CELEBRATING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF ZEELAND, MICHIGAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Huizenga) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HUIZENGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize my hometown, the 
city of Zeeland, on its 175th anniversary.
  Throughout the first week of October, friends and residents of this 
small but vibrant city in west Michigan gathered together to celebrate 
and share memories of the community's storied history.
  The village of Zeeland was established in 1847 when nearly 500 Dutch 
citizens, led by James Van de Luyster, sailed from Zeeland in the 
Netherlands to pursue religious freedom and self-rule. I will note that 
my own family came in the second wave that same year of 1847 and has 
proudly been ensconced in the city of Zeeland since then.
  After settling on 16,000 acres of land, one of the first buildings 
established was a church. Here, Reverend Cornelius van der Meulen 
became the first spiritual leader and pastor to the Zeeland colonists, 
offering hope and courage as the settlers cleared thick forests and 
tackled this new land.
  As the center of the community, the church served as a place of 
worship on Sundays as well as a school on the weekdays, with 
instruction provided in both English and in Dutch.
  A burgeoning manufacturing and agriculture sector, as well as a post 
office helped Zeeland to grow, leading to incorporation as a city in 
1907. Now, the 1900s were a time of growth in Zeeland. In fact, my own 
father served over 30 years on the city council from the late 1960s up 
until the 1990s.
  While the city has grown, one thing has remained a constant: The 
innovative, entrepreneurial, close-knit, and welcoming community 
continues to make Zeeland a special place to live, work, and raise a 
family.
  Mr. Speaker, let us join in recognizing all former and current 
residents of the city of Zeeland as they celebrate their 175th 
anniversary.

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