[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 7, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              100TH ANNIVERSARY OF LACONIA MOTORCYCLE WEEK

 Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to 
recognize the 100th anniversary of Laconia, New Hampshire's Motorcycle 
Week. Over the last century, riders from New Hampshire and across the 
country have gathered in Laconia--the heart of New Hampshire's 
beautiful Lakes Region--to gather with friends, celebrate their shared 
passion for motorcycles, and ride together.
  Many consider Laconia's Bike Week to be the oldest national 
motorcycle rally in the country. For decades, it was the largest 
motorcycle rally in the United States, and it still draws more than 
300,000 people a year, which helps support the economy of the Lakes 
Region and the rest of New Hampshire as Bike Week participants 
patronize our small businesses. Laconia Bike Week is a well-known and 
beloved tradition for countless Granite Staters and bikers near and 
far. For many, just the name Bike Week evokes fond memories of Laconia 
rallies from past years, from cruising New Hampshire's highways and 
scenic byways, to spending time with friends, old and new.
  Bike Week, of course, does not happen without effort; it takes time 
and dedication from the event organizers, who each summer come together 
to make this week possible. Nor is it by chance that this event takes 
place in New Hampshire; Bike Week is a part of the very fabric of the 
Granite State. Bike Week shows off our State's natural beauty; a ride 
through Laconia, with an open road ahead and a breeze from Lake 
Winnipesaukee blowing by, reminds us of why Granite Staters are always 
proud to call New Hampshire home. For bikers and nonbikers alike, the 
roar and thunder of engines, the thrill of zooming down a highway, the 
dazzling tricks and stunts performed at rallies--summon up our State's 
spirit.
  One of the many pieces that makes Bike Week special is that riders 
have also regularly used the event as a means to raise awareness and 
support for critical issues facing New Hampshire and our country. In 
1957, riders raised money to help fund polio research and support 
families who were grappling with that disease. This year also marks the 
35th anniversary of the Meredith POW/MIA Awareness Vigil and the 30th 
anniversary of the Freedom Ride to honor American POW/MIA 
servicemembers, spearheaded by the Northeast POW/MIA Network. Over the 
past few years, more than 2,000 motorcyclists have joined the Freedom 
Ride to commemorate the sacrifice of POW/MIA servicemembers and raise 
awareness for the missing servicemembers who have not been found. The 
Freedom Ride reminds servicemembers, their families, and all Americans 
that POW/MIA servicemembers--both those who have returned and those who 
remain missing--will never be forgotten.
  These acts of recognition and service have helped make Bike Week into 
a New Hampshire and American institution. For 100 years in Laconia, 
Americans from all backgrounds and walks of life have come together--
united by their shared enthusiasm and their deep love for our beautiful 
country--and worked to make our community and our country a better 
place. One does not have to be a biker to appreciate that this spirit 
of enthusiasm, service, and love of country embodies New Hampshire--and 
America--at our best.
  On behalf of Congress and all Granite Staters, I offer my 
congratulations to the event organizers for 100 years of Laconia 
Motorcycle Week. I have no doubt that Granite Staters and Americans 
across the country can look forward to it for generations to 
come.

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