IV 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 708 

Expressing support for designation of September 6, 2014, as ‘‘Everett McKinley Dirksen and Marigold Day’’, and designating and adopting the flower 

commonly known as the Marigold as the floral emblem of Congress 

for September 10, 2014. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 31, 2014 

Mr. SCHOCK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on House Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of September 6, 2014, 

as ‘‘Everett McKinley Dirksen and Marigold Day’’, and 

designating and adopting the flower commonly known 

as the Marigold as the floral emblem of Congress for 

September 10, 2014. 

Whereas the great Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen of 

Pekin, Illinois, has passed from the halls of the United 

States Capitol; 

Whereas the current Members of Congress wish to honor 

Senator Dirksen; 

Whereas, upon the passing of Senator Dirksen, his contemporaries and peers stated that— 

(1) Senator Dirksen— 


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•HRES 708 IH 

(A) provided sage advice and counsel and 

wholehearted wisdom; 

(B) provided support that made the civil rights 

legislation of the 1960s a fact rather than a dream 

during that decade; and 

(C) was known as an American who cultivated 

the chivalric virtues of public life, such as— 

(i) a love of combat in statesmanship; 

(ii) a high sense of honor; 

(iii) a practical acceptance of the standards 

of party loyalty; and 

(iv) the acceptance of political life as a 

game to be played according to the rules; and 

(2) when Senator Dirksen spoke, the country listened, and his eloquence was a source of national 

strength; 

Whereas, as Senator Dirksen noted, unless some supernatural force disturbs the procession of the seasons, there 

will be a spring, and when spring comes, there will be 

flowers; 

Whereas flowers are a wonder of joy brought forth by seed, 

sun, and soil, and nurtured by rain, that let nature 

unfurl all her great beauty in every color in the spectrum; 

Whereas Senator Dirksen found himself wedded to the flower 

commonly known as the Marigold, of the genus Tagetes, 

the rugged, robust, bright, and stately flower that is 

somehow able to resist the onslaught of insects while taking in stride extreme changes in temperature, fighting 

back the scorching sun in summer and the chill of early 

spring evenings; 


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Whereas the peoples of the world have from time immemorial 

adopted emblems for their institutions that represent 

their virtues; 

Whereas, from time to time, the United States Congress has 

adopted emblems to represent to the world the virtues of 

Congress and of the United States; 

Whereas the Mace of the House of Representatives is one of 

the oldest symbols of Congress and consists of 13 ebony 

rods that represent the 13 original States of the Union; 

Whereas the Seal of the Senate represents the 13 original 

colonies with a shield comprised of 13 stars and 13 

vertical stripes and a scroll inscribed with ‘‘E pluribus 

unum’’; 

Whereas the Seal of the Senate also includes— 

(1) an olive branch symbolizing peace; 

(2) an oak branch symbolizing strength; 

(3) a red liberty cap representing freedom; and 

(4) crossed fasces representing authority; 

Whereas the Marigold represents the character of the House 

of Representatives and the Senate more appropriately as 

an emblem than does any other flower; 

Whereas the Marigold is a native of North America and nowhere else in the world; 

Whereas the Marigold is grown in abundance in the home 

gardens of every State of the Union; 

Whereas the Marigold is grown easily and quickly from seed 

in every State of the Union; 

Whereas the Marigold is acknowledged as a symbol of religious faith; 


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Whereas the Marigold in its very appearance represents not 

only beauty but also a rugged humility of character; and 

Whereas the Marigold, like the American eagle and the 

American flag, would be an exclusively American emblem, 

unclaimed by any foreign country or institution: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That Congress— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘Everett 

3 McKinley Dirksen and Marigold Day’’; and 

4 (2) designates and adopts the flower commonly 

5 known as the Marigold, of the genus Tagetes, as the 

6 floral emblem of Congress. 

Æ 


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