HONORING PETER YARROW

HONORING PETER YARROW

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 9 (Thursday, January 16, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 9 (Thursday, January 16, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E42] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING PETER YARROW ______ HON. BETTY McCOLLUM of minnesota in the house of representatives Thursday, January 16, 2025 Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of an extraordinary man, Peter Yarrow, of the legendary folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. Peter passed away at home in New York City on January 7, 2025, at the age of 86. He is survived by his spouse, Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow, children Christopher Yarrow and Bethany Yarrow and his beloved granddaughter, Valentina. The son of Ukrainian Jewish Immigrants, Peter was born and raised in New York City, attended New York's High School of Music and Arts, and graduated from Cornell University in 1959. While at Cornell, Peter took an American Folk Literature course in which singing and guitar playing were prerequisites. Thus began a career that would span the ages. Upon graduating, Peter moved to New York City and began a successful run in the Greenwich Village folk movement with the purpose of creating community through music. Peter, Paul and Mary debuted in 1961, enjoyed huge success with six top 10 hits on the Billboard ``Hot 100'' and five Grammy Awards. Peter's gift for songwriting produced some of the most poignant songs Peter, Paul & Mary have recorded, including ``Puff, the Magic Dragon,'' ``Day is Done,'' ``Light One Candle,'' and ``The Great Mandala.'' Peter had a firm and devout commitment to activism and organizing. He devoted his time and talents to the Civil Rights Movement which brought Peter, Paul and Mary to Washington in 1963, to participate in both the historic March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the historic Selma-Montgomery March in 1965. Peter was a founding board member of the Newport Folk Festival and used his organizing skills to shine light on merging folk performers and songwriters to a wider audience. He was a leader in the Peace/Anti-Vietnam war movement, the equal rights movement, deeply committed to protecting the environment, gender equality, ending homelessness, supporting the hospice care movement, public broadcasting and education. In 1999, Peter founded the non-profit education and advocacy organization, Operation Respect. Operation Respect's classroom based ``Don't Laugh at Me'' curriculum was created to combat school bullying, promote tolerance and provide children with the tools necessary to express their feelings constructively, resolve conflict peacefully, celebrate diversity and engage with each other cooperatively and compassionately. Operation Respect's success has reached over 22,000 US schools and expanded globally, including Ukraine, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Hong Kong, Croatia, Canada and Japan with the aim of fostering dialogue and understanding around the world. Operation Respect has found that schools committed to establishing a respectful, safe and compassionate learning environment, experience improvements in academic achievement, student attendance and staff retention, at the same tune reducing bullying, violence and other behavioral issues. It was an honor to call Peter a friend. I'm grateful for his kindness, compassion, commitment to peace, promotion of human rights, and boundless talent which has been an inspiration for me and will continue to inspire many for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the remarkable life and the visionary work of Peter Yarrow. ____________________