[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13033]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING GIRLS INC.

 Mrs. LINCOLN. Mr. President, today I congratulate Girls Inc. 
of Fort Smith, first place winners in the National Park Foundation's 
inaugural First Bloom program, in which fourth to sixth graders plan 
and grow native plants that help educate visitors in national parks 
across the U.S.
  For more than a year, Girls Inc. has tended the ``officers' garden'' 
at the Fort Smith Historic Site, a part of the National Park Service. 
To blend in with the history and heritage of the site, the girls wear 
1860s attire, complete with a dress, apron, and bonnet. The girls 
cultivate, plant, water and grow the garden in the way women and girls 
of that era would have, using plants and seeds that were available in 
the Civil War-era in Fort Smith. Because of the girls' dedicated 
efforts, the garden has expanded to twice its original size.
  The officers' garden at the Fort Smith site was started 2\1/2\ years 
ago by park interpreter Keri Powers, who would explain to visitors the 
significance of having a garden for officers' wives, which not only 
provided food and medicine, but also was a social space for family and 
friends to gather.
  Girls Inc. competed against students with projects in some of our 
Nation's most best-known national parks, such as Bryce Canyon in Utah 
and Glacier Bay in Alaska. Their hard work and perseverance paid off, 
and I know all Arkansans share my pride in their accomplishments.
  As a part of their first place prize, the girls received an all-
expenses paid trip to Washington. I was honored to meet with these 
young girls today, to hear more about their project and their 
experiences. While in Washington, the girls plan to meet with other 
members of Arkansas's congressional delegation, tour the National Mall, 
and visit the White House.
  Girls Inc. of Fort Smith represents the best of Arkansas. Along with 
all Arkansans, I congratulate them for this tremendous 
achievement.

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