[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1367 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1367

Recognizing the significance of the Haitian flag to the people of Haiti 
        and supporting the goals and ideals of Haitian Flag Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 18, 2010

 Ms. Clarke (for herself, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Kilpatrick of Michigan, Mr. 
  Meek of Florida, Ms. Loretta Sanchez of California, Mr. Payne, Mr. 
 McMahon, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Filner, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Ms. Jackson 
     Lee of Texas, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Ms. Lee of 
    California, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the significance of the Haitian flag to the people of Haiti 
        and supporting the goals and ideals of Haitian Flag Day.

Whereas Haitian Flag Day is celebrated annually on May 18, marking the date of 
        creation of the first Haitian flag sewn by Catherine Flon, on May 18, 
        1803, in Arcahaie, Haiti;
Whereas the Haitian flag is a symbol of pride, unity, individual liberty, and is 
        tightly linked to the country's history of struggle and freedom;
Whereas the Haitian flag is also a commemoration of the heroes of Haiti's 
        history, Toussaint L'Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Alexandre 
        Petion, and Capois La Mort;
Whereas Haitian Flag Day is a major Haitian national holiday celebrated with 
        great fanfare on the grounds of the national palace and all cities in 
        the country;
Whereas Haitian Flag Day is also celebrated in other countries with large 
        Haitian populations, such as the United States;
Whereas the Haitian Revolution was the only successful slave revolt in world 
        history, resulting in Haiti becoming the first Black sovereign nation;
Whereas Haiti also became the second free republic in the Western Hemisphere, 
        after the United States;
Whereas, on August 21, 1791, the Haitian Revolution began its struggle against 
        the French occupation;
Whereas from 1791 to 1793, the revolt became more widespread and gave rise to a 
        number of large groups still fighting independently;
Whereas the slave movement found some synergy and came to follow the leadership 
        of Toussaint L'Ouverture;
Whereas Toussaint L'Ouverture led the entire war under the French blue, white, 
        and red flag;
Whereas after the capture of L'Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, his 
        successor, modified the flag by stripping the white band from the flag, 
        which led to the red and blue design and inserting the coat of arms in 
        the center which carry the words, ``L'Union fait la force'' meaning 
        ``through Unity, there is Strength'';
Whereas the red symbolizes the blood and the sacrifices made by the heroes of 
        the Haitian Revolution, and the blue is emblematic of hope and unity;
Whereas the Haitian Revolution was one of the most influential uprisings in the 
        Western Hemisphere, sparking slave revolts throughout the Caribbean 
        which forced the eventual end of slavery in the British and French 
        Caribbean;
Whereas the Haitian Revolution also inspired the three major slave revolts in 
        the United States, Gabrielle Prosser in 1800, Denmark Vesey in 1822, and 
        Nat Turner in 1830;
Whereas the Trinidadian born historian, C.L.R. James, stated that the Haitian 
        Revolution was the first in the chain of Pan-African revolts that led to 
        independence throughout Africa;
Whereas the defeat of the French Army by the Haitian people ruined Napoleon 
        Bonaparte's plan to expand the French Empire in the west, by forcing 
        France to sell the Louisiana Territory to the United States at 4 cents 
        per acre;
Whereas the Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States by 828,000 
        square miles from Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains and from the Gulf 
        of Mexico to Canada;
Whereas this was considered the biggest land deal in the history of the United 
        States;
Whereas the Haitian Army, led by Dessalines, devastated Rochembeau and the 
        French Army at the Battle of Vertieres on November 18, 1803;
Whereas, on January 1, 1804, Dessalines declared independence, reclaiming the 
        indigenous Taino name of Haiti (``Land of Mountains'') for the new 
        nation;
Whereas 206 years after independence, Haiti's history has been one of challenge 
        and resilience;
Whereas recently, the earthquake of January 12, 2010, killed over 200,000 
        people, shattered the economy, and leveled its infrastructure;
Whereas as the Haitian people and the Haitian Diaspora attempt to rebuild the 
        island nation, Haitians look to their flag as a symbol of hope, courage, 
        and pride;
Whereas the Haitian flag serves as a treasured symbol of those who lost their 
        lives in the struggle for freedom from oppression and as a reminder of 
        their proud history; and
Whereas, May 18, 2010, is recognized as Haitian Flag Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the 
significance of the Haitian Flag to the people of Haiti and supports 
the goals and ideals of Haitian Flag Day.
                                 <all>