[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17717]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             THE JOHN HANSON NATIONAL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION

  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I wish to recognize a fellow Marylander, 
John Hanson, whose statue graces Statuary Hall here in the U.S. 
Capitol. George Washington is properly revered as the ``Father of our 
Country'' and the Nation's first President. But we mustn't overlook 
John Hanson's seminal contributions to the birth of the United States. 
In October 1781, the British surrendered at Yorktown, VA, and the 
American Revolution was over. A month later, Hanson became the first 
elected President of the Continental Congress established under the 
Articles of Confederation. He was unanimously elected and served one 
term, from November 5, 1781 to November 3, 1782.
  John Hanson's administration began the task of creating the 
governmental infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing, diverse 
nation. Under his leadership, the Nation's first central bank was 
created, along with the post office, the departments of State, War and 
Treasury, the diplomatic corps, the national seal, and the annual 
observance of Thanksgiving Day. As the first elected President of our 
independent Nation, President Hanson began the task of unifying the 
former colonies and providing for their common defense, communication, 
and economic growth.
  The John Hanson National Memorial Association now seeks to 
memorialize John Hanson and recognize his contributions to our Nation. 
The association proposes to create a national memorial on the Frederick 
County Courthouse courtyard, overlooking the site of the John Hanson 
House in Frederick, MD. Funds also will be raised to establish a public 
education program regarding President Hanson's contributions to our 
democracy. Funding also will be used to support the John Hanson 
Institute, which would restore and preserve President Hanson's first 
home, Mulberry Grove, on the banks of Port Tobacco River in Charles 
County, MD.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the efforts of the 
association to recognize our first elected President, John Hanson of 
Maryland.

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