[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16480]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNITION OF THE MERION VILLAGE ASSOCIATION

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                          HON. MARY JO KILROY

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2010

  Ms. KILROY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Merion Village 
Association for twenty five years of fostering goodwill in its historic 
community. Merion Village was home to some of the first settlers of 
Columbus and has proved to be a resilient, vibrant community that is 
still very active today.
  Two hundred years ago, Nathaniel Merion arrived in central Ohio to 
establish the town that would eventually bear his name. His intuitive 
business sense and the hard work and determination of the people of 
Merion launched the town into a hub of activity and industry. By the 
early 20th century, Merion had become a prime manufacturing center and 
the home of two large steel plants. Today Merion is a melting pot of 
different cultures, a vibrant town rooted in the past but looking 
toward the future.
  The Merion Village Association cultivates a small-town feel in an 
increasingly global age. The Association seeks to preserve the values 
instilled by early settlers while incorporating the many cultures that 
have since come to the area. Merion Village is now a rich tapestry of 
new and old residents, an interesting blend of German, Irish, Italian, 
and Hungarian. The Association brings together Merion's many diverse 
residents to discuss hard issues facing their community and provides 
social outlets for residents to meet one another and forge new 
friendships.
  Merion Village was the land of opportunity for many people, a place 
where they could realize their dreams. For the past 25 years, the 
Association has provided the residents of Merion with the social 
support needed to achieve their goals. Residents of Merion may learn 
about and discuss the issues facing their community through one of the 
monthly meetings the Association hosts. Additionally, residents who 
normally may not have had contact with one another have the opportunity 
to mix and mingle at one of the Association's many events.
  As Merion Village continues to grow and strive, the Merion Village 
Association will continue to play an important and vital role in the 
community. On October 16, 2010, the Merion Village Association will 
celebrate its 25th anniversary. I am proud to recognize and honor the 
Merion Village Association for its efforts, past and future, in making 
Merion Village what it is today.

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