[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 29740]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HAPPY BIRTHDAY PERRY, GEORGIA

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, on the eve of its one hundred and 
seventy-fifth birthday, I rise today to recognize a most charming and 
prosperous town, Perry, GA. When the first settlers came to the fertile 
plains of central Georgia, they found a wealth of natural resources 
that promised prosperity. The land proved not only beautiful, but also 
perfectly suited for agriculture. The town's initial successes 
attracted entrepreneurial citizens who contributed greatly to Perry's 
strong industrial and agricultural presence in Georgia which continues 
to grow to this day.
  Perry is the seat of Houston County, and is blessed with a rich 
abundance of natural, historic and cultural diversity. Formerly known 
as Wattsville, Perry became the first official town in the county on 
November 25, 1824. Perry is named after Commodore Oliver Perry, who 
became famous for a battle on Lake Erie during the war of 1812. During 
the battle of September 10, 1813, Perry defeated and captured a 
flotilla of six large British frigates with an improvised fleet of nine 
American vessels and in so doing neutralized the British naval presence 
on Lake Erie.
  For as long as anyone can remember, Perry has been a favorite place 
for tourists to stop. Known as the ``Crossroads of Georgia,'' Perry is 
located in the geographic center of the state where U.S. Highways 341 
and 41 and the Golden Isles Parkway intersect with Interstate 75. With 
an ideal location along I-75, Perry has long enjoyed the distinction as 
Georgia's halfway point to Florida. As a result, snowbirds and 
vacationers of every type have recognized Perry as a pleasant place to 
stop and rest, grab a bite to eat at one of Perry's many restaurants, 
including one of my favorites, The New Perry Hotel, or simply to enjoy 
the peacefulness of the small town. Combined with the graciousness with 
which they are received by Perryans, many have found it difficult to 
leave!
  For festival-goers, Perry's warm climate and 628-acre events complex 
provide ample opportunity for fun and entertainment. Perry is home to 
Georgia's National Fair, a much-anticipated, 10-day extravaganza held 
each October. Activities at the fair are reminiscent of county fairs of 
old, revolving around livestock and horse shows, FAA and FHA events, 
home and fine arts displays, as well as the ever-popular baking and 
quilting competitions. This year marked the 10-year anniversary of the 
fair. The 628-acre complex is the largest of its kind, and the events 
hosted at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter have an 
estimated economic impact of $30 million annually.
  For about two weeks starting in mid-March, the Peach Blossom Trail on 
U.S. 341 north of Perry is lined with pink and white blossoms. From 
mid-May through mid-August, an abundance of fresh peaches can be found 
for sale at roadside stands. Dogwoods and azaleas bloom profusely 
during the spring and camellias brighten the landscape during the 
winter. The dogwood has been adopted as the city's official tree. 
Perry's downtown has been maintained as a colonial-style village with 
specialty shops and restful atmosphere.
  More than the festivals, beauty, history or industry, it is the 
wonderful people of Perry who make it such a unique place. Perry 
manages to maintain a less hectic pace and small town friendliness that 
has become a rarity in today's hustle-bustle society. There is an 
extremely strong sense of community in Perry as is evident in the 
strong church attendance, school participation, civic activism and 
neighborhood involvement among Perry's citizens. Additionally, Perry 
can be claimed as home by such noted national leaders as General 
Courtney Hodges of World War II fame, former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn, and 
the late former Congressman Richard Ray.
  Mr. President, I warmly request that you and my colleagues join me in 
paying tribute to a jewel of a town, Perry, GA.

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