[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11085-11086]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        CELEBRATING THE OAK TREE

  (Mr. GOODE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOODE. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to announce that the 
National Register of Big Trees from the conservation group American 
Forests has formally given the crown of the Nation's largest white oak 
tree, a quercus alba, to the oak tree in front of Bothwick Hall in 
Brunswick County, Virginia. The national champion oak is

[[Page 11086]]

86 feet high, with a circumference of 26 feet, and a crown spread of 
116 feet.
  The great white oak belongs to George and Mary Robinson from 
Brunswick County, which I am proud to represent. Beautiful and historic 
Brunswick County is the birthplace of the world-famous Brunswick stew 
and is now home to the Nation's largest white oak tree.
  I am also proud to support H.R. 1775, legislation sponsored by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), my friend and fellow 
Virginian, which would designate the oak tree as the national tree of 
the United States.
  The meaningful history of the oak and magnificent trees such as that 
of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson make the oak the logical choice for the 
national tree. Long may the great Brunswick County white oak stand.

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