S4126 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 27, 2011 HARROLD, SOUTH DAKOTA Today, the importance of community speech as valedictorian. Jack’s speech ∑ Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. to this vibrant town is evident in the is flavored with all the inside jokes President, today I recognize the com- presence of their well-maintained that will forever be the shorthand his- munity of Harrold, SD, for the tremen- school, local businesses, and churches. tory of the 13 years he and most of his dous milestone of reaching the 125th The Veteran’s Memorial is a popular classmates spent at Collegiate—the anniversary of its founding. Harrold is tourist attraction and brings commu- cello body slam, the sumo wrestler vid- a close-knit community located in nity pride to the residents and honors eos, the ballad of Bubba Grandoo, when Hughes County, and represents the the military members that served their Carlo broke the silence—all the absurd- small town spirit that makes South country. Tripp will celebrate its 125th ity and antics of years fully enjoyed Dakota stand out in the Midwest. anniversary with many activities in- while learning. Jack’s speech is also defined by a deep understanding of Named after Harrold McCullaugh, an cluding a race on the local fairgrounds. what holds real value in this life— officer of the Chicago and North West- Tripp is a thriving town that main- teachers who care, friends who share, ern Railroad, people began settling in tains true South Dakota values. I con- parents who love—truths that Jack and the Harrold area around 1883 thanks in gratulate the citizens of Tripp on their his classmates will surely carry in the part to the newly built railroad line accomplishments over the last 125 years ahead after graduating from Col- and rich farm land. Harrold was incor- years and look forward to seeing their ∑ legiate. porated in 1886. The town thrived with future endeavors. f Mr. President, particularly for all of the creation of a post office, new busi- us who know it is important to stop nesses, churches, and a school. SCHLOSSBERG COMMENCEMENT and laugh from time to time, Jack’s Through adversity over the years in- ADDRESS speech really is required reading, and I cluding crop failures, blizzards, and ∑ Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, any of us would like to have printed in the tornadoes, the people of Harrold have who have been in public life have RECORD, with congratulations to Jack, shown resiliency and maintain pride in learned—sometimes the hard way—the and the knowledge that Teddy’s boom- their community. virtues of something our late colleague ing laughter could be heard echoing all Today the town of Harrold has be- Ted Kennedy believed was a secret to over heaven following along with every come a hunter’s paradise. Many hunt- success particularly in the U.S. Senate, word. ing lodges call Harrold home and offer which is the importance of taking our The information follows. visitors and community members the work seriously but not taking our- COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS thrill of hunting game such as pheas- selves too seriously. We still miss the (By Jack Schlossberg) ant. Even with the great hunting op- booming laughter of Ted Kennedy that Faculty, parents, students, esteemed portunities, agriculture still exists as seems still today to echo through the guests, present clergy, Mr. Rosenthal, I the lifeblood of the community. In Democratic cloakroom. It was a trait thank you for your warm welcome and for more recent years, the Global Harvest Ted shared with his brother, President being here today. I wanted to discuss my Birdseed Company has expanded their Kennedy, whose quick wit is still cele- time at Collegiate and my class, but this is business and brought needed jobs to neither the time nor the place. But really, it brated today, the self-deprecating is with great honor that I make my speech as this Midwest community. humor which summarized his World Harrold will be celebrating its your valedictorian, looks like my hard work War II exploits on PT 109—‘‘they sank paid off. quasquicentennial the weekend of July my ship’’—and described the joys of the I want to begin with our teachers. My class 2–3. The town will celebrate this mile- Presidency—‘‘the pay is good and I can would not be sitting here, heading to the fan- stone with many community activates walk to work’’—which too often is tastic places we’re going next year, without including a parade, antique tractor missing in a modern day Washington our teachers. The curiosity, the energy, the pull, nickel in a haystack scramble, rib devotion . . . the tolerance that you bring to where self-importance can sometimes this school is what makes it so great . . . fest, and street dance. trump the important work to be done. Even 125 years after its founding, Doctor Clarke and Mrs. Heard taught us his- As President Kennedy himself once tory and her story. Doctor Bresnick, Mrs. Harrold remains as a shining example said, ‘‘There are three things which are Beresford and Mrs. Hansen have introduced of the steadfast spirit of small-town real; God, Human Folly and Laughter. us to characters and explored philosophy. South Dakota. Harrold was built on The first two are beyond our com- Mrs. Foley has taught us, well actually on hard work and solid values, and serves prehension so we must do what we can the smart kids, how to understand things as a reminder of South Dakota’s rich with the third.’’ that I never will, and Dr. Sigismondi has heritage. This grand achievement will brought us to appreciate the high levels A sense of humor is not genetic, but math has to offer. We also thank the mainte- serve to bring this close-knit commu- apparently in the Kennedy family it nity even closer. I am proud to honor nance staff and those administrators who can be inherited. In President Ken- make our school run smoothly despite the the people of Harrold on this memo- nedy’s grandson, Jack Schlossberg, mess we make. rable occasion, and to extend my con- this quality seems to abide. We understand that we do not come by the gratulations to them.∑ I got to know Jack well when he strength and unity of our school by our- f spent time here in the Senate both as selves. Our teachers encourage us just as a page and as an intern in my office. It much as we encourage each other to—get weird. In what other school, I ask you, could TRIPP, SOUTH DAKOTA was a difficult time for the Kennedy ∑ El Hajj and Todd Layton be clapped offstage Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. family when Teddy himself couldn’t be for no apparent reason? The things we say at President, today I pay tribute to the here as he was battling illness, but Ted Friday night games would not be tolerated 125th anniversary of the founding of enjoyed very much the stories he heard on any TV show or in any public venue. Tripp, SD. Tripp, a small town located and the photos he cherished of his We’re able to act this way because our teach- in Hutchinson County, will be cele- great-nephew hard at work in the Sen- ers love us no matter what. And, although brating its quasquicentennial the ate Ted loved. When Jack wasn’t busy some are more lenient than others, Hola weekend of July 1–3. with his page duties, particularly dur- Senor, each teacher entertains our absurdity Tripp was incorporated in 1888 and because they understand how important it is ing the late night votes when in pre- for us to have the freedom to be ourselves. named after Judge Bartlett C. Tripp. vious years Teddy himself would have Sometimes we go too far, Hola Mrs. Aidoo, On his way to California, Judge Tripp been found regaling his colleagues with and for this we apologize, but we are grateful fell in love with the area and chose to stories and laughs, I enjoyed hearing for all the love and support of our antics. make it his home. Judge Tripp was from Jack about all the lessons he had On a different note, Collegiate has provided later appointed chief justice of the Da- learned from his uncle. me with something truly irreplaceable: a kota Supreme Court in 1885 by Presi- One of those lessons—the importance second set of parents, and a third, and a dent Cleveland, and also served as the of humor—was clearly taken to heart fourth, and a fifth, and I think this is true for all of us. While my mother and father U.S. Minister to Austria-Hungary. Al- by young Jack—something I learned provide me with more than enough par- though a diplomat, Judge Tripp identi- last week reading Jack’s valedictory enting, who wouldn’t want 54 other sets of fied with the possibilities that South address this month to his classmates at parents watching over their every single Dakota offered. the Collegiate School and delivered his move?

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