Senator Burr's Duty of Honor

From John McCaslin:
"If it's his maiden speech in the U.S. Senate, then why is Sen. Richard M. Burr, North Carolina Republican, delivering a 45-minute farewell address?
Actually, Vice President Dick Cheney and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist selected the freshman senator to deliver the traditional reading Friday of George Washington's farewell address. It has been delivered on the floor of the Senate every year, on or near Washington's birthday, since 1896.
When he finishes, Burr will inscribe his name and a few comments in a black, leather-bound book kept by the secretary of the Senate.
And how does the freshman senator feel to join other notable senators to have read the address, including Henry Cabot Lodge in 1898, Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. in 1937, Hubert H. Humphrey in 1956 and Barry Goldwater in 1957?
'The United States Senate is an institution deep in tradition,' he says, 'and I appreciate the opportunity to participate in such an honored part of that tradition.'
Last year's address was delivered by outgoing Sen. John B. Breaux, Louisiana Democrat."