2007 house journal index of days - Maryland General Assembly

Feb. 12, 2007 Maryland House of Delegates 823
In fact, often overlooked in the annals of Lincoln history are two vital initiatives he
signed into law that dramatically improved the lives of generations of ordinary
Americans. The Morill Land-Grant College Act, which had been vetoed by James
Buchanan, was signed by Lincoln in 1862, signaling a new hope of opportunity for
millions of Americans. We here in Maryland proudly bear the legacy of two such
institutions: The University of Maryland College Park and The University of Maryland
Eastern Shore, which, of course, has the distinction of being one of more than 100
historically black colleges and universities throughout this land.
Likewise, the Homestead Act, signed by Lincoln in the same year, endowed the yeoman
farmer—the consummate common man—with 160 acres to chart his own destiny. In all,
nearly a million and a half settlers created 372,000 farms in the American West. Common
men and women with a common purpose rising to uncommon heights. This was the
vision of America Lincoln so readily embraced.
And this vision continues to form the foundation of our great nation. I’m certain that each
one of us has a story or two about folks in our own communities that have uniquely
contributed to the common good without aspiring to prominence. Our State is blessed to
have a ‘collection of people’—young and old—that respond to the needs of their
communities in ways uncommon.
Included in this collection are people like Rick Bauer, a Hereford High School senior
who devoted over 500 hours last summer building students at Sparks Elementary an
environmental Outdoor Learning Center. You might think this is some ordinary high
school student, but Rick’s parents, Steven and Kristine, who are here with him tonight,
know that their son is far from ordinary.
With a weighted GPA of 5.065, nine AP courses under his belt, and seven varsity letters
for track and field, indoor track and cross country, Rick will graduate this spring with the
knowledge that he has made his community an even better place to live. A member of
Boy Scout Troop 451 who was recently awarded the rank of Eagle Scout, Rick has
fostered a spirit of excitement among the kids at Sparks by creating an outdoor
amphitheater classroom and several hiking trails around the school, including a stream
nature trail. Talk about selfless and uncommon devotion to the common good.
And lest anyone think that our seniors—members of the aptly-described ‘Greatest
Generation’—have any intention to stop sacrificing for the common good, look no further
than Gene Conger, a 78-year-old retiree from Jacksonville, who along with his wife
Rita—both here with us this evening—has led the effort to ship over four and a half tons
of shoe box care packages to our service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.
An unexpected and overwhelming outpouring of generosity from the community has
even helped Gene and Rita send hundreds of pounds of clothes for the Afghani people