Norton to Walk in Cherry Blossom Parade to Show Support for Japan and Federal Government Employees
Norton to Walk in Cherry Blossom Parade to Show Support for Japan and Government Employees April 8, 2011 WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) will walk near the front of tomorrow's National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade at 10:00 a.m., behind the Ballou Senior High School Marching Band. Norton has walked in every cherry blossom parade since coming to Congress to commemorate the gift of cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan. However, this year Norton had to join efforts to keep the National Cherry Blossom Parade going because of the looming government shutdown. Norton said, "More than 3 million visitors were due in D.C. this month to attend the cherry blossom festival activities, but the possibility of a government shutdown and cancellation of the cherry blossom parade has already resulted in cancelled hotels and airfare reservations. Many will not want to come to D.C. if they think the Air and Space Museum and other free tourist attractions are closed. The federal shutdown will force the D.C. government to shutdown, and could cripple our tourist season during its high point. I am walking in Saturday's National Cherry Blossom Parade for the many federal and D.C. workers who are being involuntarily furloughed and for our city, which will be more seriously hurt by a shutdown than any other part of the country. This year's cherry blossoms will have to remind us not only of Japan's ordeal following the tsunami, but of our own. We will march to strengthen our civic will to fight the shameful treatment of our city by Congress." The National Cherry Blossom Festival unofficially marks the beginning of D.C.'s tourist season, and generates more than $126 million for the District's local economy. |