[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12058]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VILLAGE OF OAK LAWN, ILLINOIS

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                          HON. DANIEL LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 2009

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Village of Oak 
Lawn, Illinois as it celebrates its centennial. Throughout its history, 
the Village of Oak Lawn has strived to embody the best qualities of its 
residents, and in doing so has served commendably as a great place to 
work, shop, raise a family, and retire.
  Beginning with its first settler in 1842, the Village of Oak Lawn has 
prospered through the years. Symbolic of the ever-expanding United 
States, 1881 saw the laying of the railroad tracks that connected the 
area to the world. The railroad and the subsequent railway stations, 
telegraph office, and post office laid the groundwork for a population 
that grew to include churches, schools, and 300 residents by the early 
1900's. Oak Lawn's growing population, coupled with concerns about 
autonomy from the City of Chicago and the promise of a much-desired gas 
pipe, motivated the Village to incorporate in 1909. The hard work of 
the men and women of Oak Lawn led to the development of a fire 
department, library, park district and more schools by the mid 1940's. 
Village population boomed to 27,000 by the 1960's, only to have Oak 
Lawn rocked by a major tornado in 1967. Undeterred by that devastating 
event, Oak Lawn grew to its current size of 57,000 by the 1970's.
  Today, the Village of Oak Lawn is a successful, bustling community 
well-positioned to continue its prosperity in the 21st century. The 
Village employs 400 people in an official capacity and boasts a 
fantastic parks system, a state of the art library, and over 300 acres 
of parks and recreational facilities. Oak Lawn's excellent education 
system lays the groundwork for the success and development of future 
generations, boasting many excellent public schools and five Catholic 
grammar schools. Advocate Christ Medical Center and Hope Children's 
Hospital are located in Oak Lawn, providing some of the most acclaimed 
pediatrics, cardiology, surgical services, oncology, women's services 
and emergency medicine in the area. And the Children's Museum in Oak 
Lawn serves countless children from across the region who come to 
learn, grow, and have fun.
  From the first resident in 1842 to the current 57,000 residents, 
citizens of the Village of Oak Lawn have shown grit, determination, and 
a commitment to excellence and have continued to grow a vibrant 
community in suburban Cook County.
  I am proud to have in the 3rd District of Illinois such a strong 
example of what makes the United States great. May these first one 
hundred years be only the beginning. I ask my colleagues to rise with 
me to recognize the history and achievements of the residents of Oak 
Lawn as the Village celebrates its centennial anniversary.

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