[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3615-S3616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             400TH ANNIVERSARY OF PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE

   Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, today it is my privilege to 
recognize the 400th anniversary of the city of Portsmouth, NH. For four 
centuries, Portsmouth has endured as one our country's oldest and most 
vital cities, continuing to serve as a pillar for New Hampshire's 
economy and culture--and for our country's national security.
  From its founding in 1623, Portsmouth has served as one of New 
England's most important trade ports, helping develop and sustain the 
region's economy and, at one time, even served as New Hampshire's 
capital. Portsmouth first started as Strawbery Banke, an early 
settlement that evolved into a maritime hub and led Portsmouth to 
become the iconic city that it is today. In the 400 years since 1623, 
Portsmouth continues to be a wonderful place to live--and it is a 
premier destination for trade and tourism, boasting some of the finest 
breweries and seafood in the country. Portsmouth is in part why New 
Hampshire attracts millions of tourists each year.
  Portsmouth has also been instrumental in building and maintaining the 
U.S. Navy, through the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, as well as providing 
a key installation for the U.S. Air Force with the Pease Air Force 
Base, which is now home to the finest Air National Guard in the 
country. In New Hampshire, our motto is ``Live Free or Die,'' and 
Granite Staters in Portsmouth have embodied that spirit since our 
country's beginning. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard built and launched 
John Paul Jones and the USS Ranger in the American Revolutionary War--
one of the founding vessels of the U.S. Navy--and was a one-time home 
to the famed USS Constitution. The shipbuilders and dockworkers in 
Portsmouth have built and maintained vessels that served in conflicts 
from the Revolutionary War through today, including playing a decisive 
role in building our submarine fleet in World War II. Across distant 
seas and faraway tides, ships built in Portsmouth--powered by 
everything from winds to atoms--have helped ensure that Granite Staters 
and all Americans can continue to live free.
  The people of Portsmouth also know that inclusiveness is a virtue and 
a key to our State and our country's strength. As we mark the 400th 
anniversary of the city of Portsmouth, we also recognize that the 
Wabanaki people have long called this region their home, thousands of 
years before the establishment of Portsmouth. Over the

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years, a diverse group of people and communities have all made 
Portsmouth's culture richer and more vibrant. I am grateful for those 
who are shining a light on all parts of Portsmouth's history, 
especially the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. The organization 
has helped make more Granite Staters aware of the long and rich history 
of New Hampshire's Black community, including in Portsmouth, and 
deepened our appreciation of the diversity that has made Portsmouth--
and New Hampshire--stronger year after year.
  While much of Portsmouth has changed over the last four centuries, it 
still never fails to capture the hearts and imaginations of those who 
visit. Anyone who has visited Portsmouth even once knows that it is not 
an easy place to forget. Everyone who has walked Portsmouth's streets, 
toured the Strawbery Banke Museum to explore our history, taken in a 
live performance in Prescott Park or the Music Hall, tasted our fresh 
seafood, or even simply looked out at the Piscataqua River and breathed 
in the salty ocean air, knows that Portsmouth is a special place.
  Portsmouth has endured for four centuries because, across 
generations, people have believed in the city's promise, worked hard to 
keep the community strong, and remained dedicated to the notion that 
Portsmouth's best days are always ahead.
  On behalf of Congress and all Granite Staters, I offer my 
congratulations to the city of Portsmouth on this incredible milestone, 
and encourage people from across our country to visit this great 
American city.

                          ____________________