[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 137 (Tuesday, August 12, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E761]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





       RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

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                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 12, 2025

  Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable milestone 
in our Nation's history, the 50th anniversary of the Springfield Armory 
National Historic Site (NHS).
  Established during the Revolutionary War in 1777 as the ``Arsenal at 
Springfield,'' the site was recommended to George Washington by General 
Henry Knox for its strategic location along the Connecticut River and 
its proximity to four major roads that connected to New York City, 
Boston, Albany, and Montreal. The Arsenal at Springfield played a 
critical role in the war effort, both manufacturing cartridges and gun 
carriages and storing muskets, cannons, and other weaponry.
  In January 1787, the Armory was the site of Shays' Rebellion, an 
uprising led by American Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays in 
response to economic hardships faced by farmers after the Revolutionary 
War. Thousands of Shays' Regulators marched on the Springfield Armory, 
hoping to seize its weaponry and force a change of government. The 
rebellion directly influenced the delegates at the Constitutional 
Convention later that year, with James Madison citing it as a warning 
for the need for a stronger federal government.
  The Springfield Armory was officially established by George 
Washington in 1794 and played an essential role in shaping America's 
military and industrial strength. For nearly two centuries, the Armory 
provided the tools necessary to defend our Nation and served as a hub 
of innovation and craftsmanship. In 1974, the site was officially 
designated a National Historic Site and was entrusted to the 
stewardship of the National Park Service.
  Once the home of our Nation's first armory, the Springfield Armory 
National Historic Site is now home to the world's largest historic U.S. 
military small arms collection, commemorating the innovative 
craftsmanship and ingenuity that enabled the production of the most 
superior firearms for nearly two centuries. Thousands of visitors come 
every year to not only marvel at this collection, but also learn about 
the region's rich history and its critical role in the founding of our 
Nation.
  On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the Springfield Armory NHS will host a 
community-wide celebration on the scenic grounds of the Springfield 
Armory and Springfield Technical Community College to mark this 
historic occasion. This free, family-friendly festival will honor five 
decades of preserving the rich military, industrial, and social legacy 
of the Armory.
  I commend the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, 
Superintendent Fellner and her team, and our entire western 
Massachusetts community for honoring the past and enriching the 
present. Here's to another fifty years of education, inspiration, and 
connection through this treasured historic landmark.

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