August 26, 1976
Page 27953
CITIZEN ACTION ON THE CASCO BAY ISLANDS
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, a recent editorial in the Portland Press Herald made note of two important successes for the people of the Casco Bay Islands in the areas of health care and world peace. I had the opportunity to visit the islands recently, and talked with people there about these projects. I would like to join the newspaper in offering thanks and congratulations. I think their work demonstrates what a small group of determined and dedicated people can do to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of others.
I ask unanimous consent that the editorial be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the editorial was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
A GIANT STEP
It was a very big weekend for the people of Peaks Island with two significant events, one involving a building, the other a World War II gun emplacement.
On Friday, the Casco Bay Health Center was opened culminating two years of dedicated work by members of the Casco Bay Health Council. And while other sources, such as the Maine Medical Center which will work closely with the Center, have played major roles in bringing the island facility to reality, it was primarily the efforts of islanders themselves that brought success and everyone participating in the official ceremonies stressed that factor.
The other event, the dedication of the gun emplacement, represents an even longer period of effort and is part of a project not yet brought to completion.
The gun emplacement was dedicated to peace throughout the world and it represents a 13-year effort by the Peaks Island Conference Center. It is that organization's dream to one day build an international conference center on the site at the east end of. the island.
Some 40 United Nations journalists were weekend guests of residents of Peaks, Chebeague, Long, Little and Great Diamond Islands. It was the first time in five years that the journalists had gathered here.
The people who share the vision of the conference center on the island hope that these journalists, and those who have been here in earlier years, will join in encouraging the development of such a center. The whole idea is to promote peace, bringing people together on a one-to-one basis in a setting of tranquility and beauty. It may be a dream, but it is everyone's hope that the dream will come true and that free from the protocol and rigidity of the formal United Nations proceedings, some understanding can be shared.
More immediately and practically, the gun emplacement may be used for special events and islanders hope it may even become part of a summer theater operation.
The dedication of the gun battery may seem as one small step for man, but who is to say that one day it will not be recognized as part of a giant step for mankind.
And the health center already is a giant step for all the men and women of the island who for so long have had to travel to the mainland for medical assistance.
The health center brings a new security to island residents right now. Perhaps, in years to come, the conference center concept will bring a new security for all people.
In any event, the people of Peaks Island are to be congratulated for their devotion to both causes and the accomplishments already realized in each program.