[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11137-11138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITY OF MARSEILLES, IL

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DEBORAH L. HALVORSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 17, 2010

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the city of 
Marseilles, Illinois as it celebrates its 175th Anniversary this month. 
Marseilles, founded in 1835 by settlers on little more than a dream and 
a few acres of land, commemorates a history of growth and prosperity 
that has turned it into the beautiful community that it is today.
  The city's history began in 1835 when a man named Lovel Kimball saw 
the great potential of the city, naming it Marseilles after the city in 
France that embodied the industrial center that he wished to establish. 
Founded on the banks of the mighty Illinois River and later near the 
Illinois Michigan Canal, the early settlement was full of promise with 
the capacity to become a center of manufacturing and industry. Today 
that same river still plays an integral part in the industrial and 
recreational life of Marseilles.

[[Page 11138]]

  Always a center for innovation and promise, the men and women who 
have called Marseilles home have gone on to make great contributions to 
their country and their fellow man. Solomon Bell, the inventor of the 
original reaper that transformed the agricultural industry worldwide, 
began his career in Marseilles and today this community is well 
equipped to nurture the next generation of inventors, scientists and 
leaders.
  The people of Marseilles have a rich history of service to their 
country. Soldiers and war heroes from nearly every major war in the 
past century have spent their time in Marseilles and many have found 
their final resting place here. Mothers and fathers have sent their 
sons and daughters to fight for our country's freedom for generations 
and the community of Marseilles has shown a unique dedication to 
honoring our veterans and remembering our fallen heroes.
  On June 19th, 2004, Marseilles became home to the Middle East 
Conflicts Memorial Wall. This Wall is the only memorial in the United 
States dedicated solely to honoring the servicemen and women who have 
lost their lives fighting in wars in the Middle East since 1979. As an 
ardent supporter of all veterans, I am especially proud of Marseilles 
for this fact.
  Since its founding 175 years ago, Marseilles has become a community 
that takes pride in its schools, its beautiful churches, its hard 
workers, and its atmosphere of friendliness and family. This character 
is what brings Marseilles into its 175th year as a thriving, vibrant 
community and I am confident that it will continue to carry on this 
legacy for many years to come.

                          ____________________