[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Page 11311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NEWPORT, MAINE BICENTENNIAL

  Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I wish to commemorate the 200th 
anniversary of the Town of Newport, ME. Newport was built with a spirit 
of determination and resiliency that still guides the community today, 
and this bicentennial is a time to celebrate the generations of hard-
working and caring people who have made it such a wonderful place to 
live, work, and raise families.
  While this bicentennial marks Newport's incorporation, the year 1814 
was but one milestone in a long journey of progress. For thousands of 
years, the region was the hunting and fishing grounds of the Abenaki, 
and the chain of lakes and streams formed their highway between the 
mighty Kennebec and Penobscot Rivers. The very name of the town a 
translation of Sebasticook, the Abenaki word for portage is evidence of 
the friendship between the first white settlers and the Native 
Americans.
  The settlers were drawn by fertile soil, vast forests, and fast-
moving waters, which they turned into productive farms and busy lumber 
mills that were soon followed by blacksmiths, leather manufacturing, 
textiles, and other endeavors vital to Maine's development. The wealth 
produced by the land, and by hard work and determination, was invested 
in schools and churches to create a true community. In the decades that 
followed, Newport became a center of industry and innovation with such 
remarkable endeavors as silk production, condensed milk manufacturing, 
and the fabrication of what were considered the finest carriages in 
Maine.
  Today, the people of Newport continue to build. Their strong 
environmental ethic has helped make Sebasticook Lake a favorite 
recreation destination for residents and visitors. The Newport 
Industrial Center offers a home to new or expanding businesses, and the 
Newport Cultural Center contributes to a vibrant downtown.
  A quality that runs through Newport's history is courage, best 
demonstrated by the memorial the town dedicated 3 years ago to SGT 
Donald Skidgel, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for giving his life 
to save the lives of his fellow soldiers in Vietnam. From the Civil War 
to the conflicts of our time, the names of some 500 patriots from 
Newport who have served our Nation with honor and defended our freedom 
with valor are inscribed on the Veterans Memorial.
  This 200th anniversary is not just about something that is measured 
in calendar years. It is about human accomplishment, an occasion to 
celebrate the people who for more than two centuries have pulled 
together, cared for one another, and built a community. Thanks to those 
who came before, Newport has a wonderful history. Thanks to those who 
are there today, it has a bright future.

                          ____________________