[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16950]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN BOYERS, INC. 100TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM HOLDEN

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 2004

  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Association of 
American Boyers on the occasion of its 100th year anniversary.
  In 1905, the Association of American Boyers held its first reunion in 
Dryville, Pennsylvania. The original attendees of that grand day have 
now grown to over 4,000 members. During the first reunion a mission 
statement was adopted which read ``The object of this Association is 
educational, to hold reunions, and to foster, encourage, and develop 
the family spirit of the Boyer people.''
  A two-day celebration to commemorate 100 years of existence for the 
``Association of American Boyers, Inc.'' will be held Saturday and 
Sunday, July 24-25, 2004, on the grounds of the Central Pennsylvania 
College. On these dates Boyers from around the United States and 
various overseas points of destination will gather to celebrate their 
heritage, history, and family accomplishments.
  The legacy of the Boyer name can be traced to the fourth and second 
centuries before Christ. Carrying the name of Boiare early settlers 
moved into Germany, France and England. Many variations of the Boyer 
name such as Bayer, Baier, Beyer, Beier, Byer and Bowyer arose in the 
years to follow.
  Segments of these first ``Boyers'' came to the United States in the 
1600's. Transition of some family members brought a Boyer presence to 
Pennsylvania in the early 1700's. Approximately forty Boyers had 
settled in Eastern Pennsylvania by 1775 and many served as soldiers 
under George Washington. Boyers have since spread throughout all of 
Pennsylvania, maintain large populations in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, 
Indiana, New York, California, and Maryland and are present in some 
number in all fifty states.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in acknowledging the 
long standing history of Boyers and their impact since coming to the 
United States and thank them for the many contributions they have made 
to the growth of our great nation.

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