[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 87 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE TOWN OF ERIN, NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                      HON. NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2026

  Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Town of 
Erin, New York, as the community gathers to celebrate nearly 200 years 
of family, tradition, and proud history. Erin's very name reflects the 
deep Irish heritage of many of its earliest settlers, whose spirit, 
faith, and determination helped shape the identity of this town that we 
still cherish today.
  In the years following the War of 1812, those early pioneers arrived 
here to what was then dense wilderness. Through grit and sacrifice, 
they cleared forests, built homes, and established the farms that would 
become the backbone of Erin for generations. The hardworking loggers 
and woodsmen who made way for the next two centuries of community 
helped define not only Erin's economy, but its enduring character as 
well. Logging, timber, and woodworking were not simply industries 
here--they were a way of life.
  That same spirit of community continues today through the work of 
local volunteers, especially the Erin Volunteer Fire Department and the 
many dedicated people who make the Erin Wood Festival possible year 
after year. What began as a celebration of the town's timber heritage 
has grown into a cherished tradition that brings families together, 
supports the community, and reminds us all of the pride shared by the 
people of Erin.
  As Supervisor Dawn M. Schmidt and the Town of Erin come together in 
celebration of 200 years of shared history, I ask that this body join 
me in honoring their remarkable past and the promise of an even 
stronger future for the next generation of Erin families.

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