Honoring The Sesquicentennial Of Oregon Statehood
Floor Speech
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Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Oregon's 150th birthday. On February 14 of this year, we will begin a year-long celebration of those who invested their lives in making Oregon a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
I was born in Myrtle Creek, OR, the son of a sawmill worker and grew up in Roseburg, OR. I later moved to East Multnomah County with my family and am truly blessed to call Oregon my home and share all of its natural beauty with my family.
There are so many diverse events that take place all across Oregon which give our State its unique character. The Shakespeare Festival held in Ashland, OR, draws tens of thousands of people from all over the country and is one of the oldest non-profit theater companies in the world. The Pendleton Roundup, located in Eastern Oregon, is one of the largest rodeos in the world and has been going strong for nearly one hundred years.
Oregon is one of the most geographically diverse States in the country and people from all across the state love to celebrate the great Oregon outdoors. The Hood to Coast Relay, which starts at Mount Hood and ends in Seaside Oregon, is the largest relay in the world. Every year, Oregonians compete in six events at the Pole Peddle Paddle in Bend, OR, a relay race that begins at the top of Mount Bachelor and ends on the grassy banks of the Deschutes River. The Pole Peddle Paddle consists of a leg in alpine skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, biking, running, canoe/kayaking and a sprint to the finish line.
Each of these events and the many other cultural, artistic and civic festivals held in the State--will have a special resonance this year as we honor our sesquicentennial.
But even more than the beautiful vistas of Oregon or the countless celebrations, Oregon is defined by the people who live there. I've traveled all over the State and met so many amazing Oregonians who continue to carry on the legacy of innovation and hard work that has transformed our State into an influential civic laboratory and high tech hub. Oregon has taken the lead on issues vital to our natural resources and led the way in producing of some of the finest goods in the country. As a United States Senator, I couldn't be prouder to represent such a wonderful State, filled with people who are incredibly kind and welcoming.
I encourage my fellow Oregonians to commemorate Oregon's 150th birthday by taking part in local celebrations of our culture and history and volunteering some of your time to a service project in your community. I invite my colleagues here in the Senate, your constituents, and citizens from around the world to come to Oregon this year and experience all our wonderful State has to offer. Regardless of where you live whether you are in North Carolina or Texas or Europe or South America a world of opportunity awaits you in Oregon. Come see how together we can make Oregon's next 150 years even more memorable.
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