[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[House]
[Page 31685]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     OKLAHOMA'S CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY

  (Ms. FALLIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. FALLIN. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the State of Oklahoma will 
celebrate its centennial birthday, and today I come to the House floor 
to commemorate and honor our State's rich history. And, most of all, I 
am here to honor the people of Oklahoma, our greatest strength, whose 
hard work and pioneer spirit have written a truly unique chapter in 
American history.
  Oklahoma has been defined by the adventuresome nature of the men and 
women who settled there. Although we are a young State, our legacy is 
significant. Oklahoma has gone from Indian territory to land runs to a 
State on the cutting edge of American agriculture and energy 
production. Each portion of our history has left a unique imprint on 
the culture of our State and our Nation.
  Today, 100 years after Oklahoma achieved statehood, we have so much 
to offer: a tremendous quality of life, a work ethic second to none, 
and a pioneer spirit just as much alive as it was a century ago.
  On the eve of our centennial, we honor all Oklahomans. We have our 
household names, Will Rogers to Jim Thorpe, but there are millions of 
others of hardworking, compassionate Oklahomans. I just wish Oklahoma a 
happy birthday, and may God continue to bless our State.

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