III 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 127 

Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the loss of the State symbol 

of New Hampshire, the Old Man of the Mountain. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 25, 2013 

Ms. AYOTTE (for herself and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

MAY 7, 2013 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 10-year anniversary of the loss of the 

State symbol of New Hampshire, the Old Man of the 

Mountain. 

Whereas retreating glaciers carved the White Mountains, 

leaving behind the Old Man of the Mountain (referred to 

in this preamble as the ‘‘Old Man’’) as a sentinel to gaze 

across their granite majesty; 

Whereas granite ledges formed the profile of the Old Man, 

framed by the sweeping curve of the shoulder of a mountain; 

Whereas the native son of New Hampshire and distinguished 

Member of the Senate, Daniel Webster, wrote: ‘‘Men 

hang out their signs indicative of their respective trades; 

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SRES 127 ATS 

shoe makers hang out a gigantic shoe; jewelers a monster 

watch, and the dentist hangs out a gold tooth; but up in 

the Mountains of New Hampshire, God Almighty has 

hung out a sign to show that there He makes men’’; 

Whereas both the proud visage and the steadfastness of the 

Old Man embodied the character traits of independence, 

strength, and a dedication to live free that are embedded 

in Granite Staters; 

Whereas the home of the Old Man, New Hampshire, possesses a clear sense of its place in the history of the 

United States as— 

(1) the first State to adopt its own constitution; 

(2) the State whose ratification of the Constitution 

of the United States helped bring forth this country; and 

(3) the State that, as host of the first presidential 

primary in the United States, has a continuing role in 

each election of the President; 

Whereas the Old Man was visited by sightseers from around 

the world, who found strength and inspiration in his 

image; 

Whereas visits to the Old Man have inspired reverence for 

that which is irreplaceable; 

Whereas, for 10 millennia, the Old Man survived legendary 

winds, snow, rain, and ice; 

Whereas, on May 3, 2003, the time-worn granite ledges of 

the visage of the Old Man released their hold on the 

mountain and fell into history; 

Whereas the loss of the Old Man forever changed the face of 

New Hampshire and was felt by all people of the State 

accustomed to living under his watchful gaze; 

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Whereas the Old Man, who lived in the heart of the White 

Mountains, now lives on in the hearts of the people of 

New Hampshire; and 

Whereas, while Granite Staters mourn the loss of their granite man, they pay tribute with a long glance up at the 

bare face of the grey mountain and a pause in remembrance of the first citizen of the beloved State: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the 10th anniversary of the loss 

3 of the Old Man of the Mountain; 

4 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

5 to preserve the legacy of the Old Man of the Moun6 tain; 

7 (3) recognizes the inspiration provided by the 

8 Old Man of the Mountain to generations of Granite 

9 Staters and visitors to the State of New Hampshire; 

10 and 

11 (4) recognizes the Old Man of the Mountain as 

12 a symbol of liberty, freedom, and independence. 

Æ 

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