[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 97 (Friday, July 22, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 22, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   A BILL TO DESIGNATE THE HONEY SPRINGS AND WASHITA BATTLEFIELDS AS 
                             NATIONAL PARKS

                                 ______


                            HON. MIKE SYNAR

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 22, 1994

  Mr. SYNAR. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I and my 
colleague from Oklahoma, the Honorable Frank Lucas, introduce this bill 
to designate the Honey Springs and Washita battlefield sites as 
national parks. Oklahoma is rich with history and natural beauty, and, 
if enacted, these battlefield sites would be the first national parks 
in our great State.
  For many years, Oklahoma has recognized the historical importance of 
these sites and considered them to be of value to the Nation, as well. 
In 1993, the Oklahoma Legislature created the Oklahoma Battlefield 
Commission to identify and promote the preservation of notable 
battlefield sites in our State. The commission found that the battles 
of Honey Springs and Washita were particularly important and worthy of 
inclusion within the National Park System.
  The Battle of Honey Springs, which is in my district, was fought on 
July 17, 1863. Honey Springs may have been the most racially diverse 
battle of the Civil War and led to Union control over Indian territory 
in our area of the country for the rest of the war. Indeed, the Civil 
War Sites Advisory Commission's recent Report on the Nation's Civil War 
Battlefields includes Honey Springs among the major campaigns not 
currently represented in the National Park System.
  The Battle of the Washita, on November 27, 1868, was one of the 
largest engagements between Plains tribes and the U.S. Army on the 
Southern Great Plains. Lt. Col. George A. Custer, leading the 7th U.S. 
Cavalry, attacked the sleeping Cheyenne village of Chief Black Kettle 
and inflicted more than 150 Indian casualties, many of them women and 
children. The Battle of Washita symbolizes the struggle of the Southern 
Great Plains tribes to maintain their traditional ways of life and not 
to submit to reservation confinement.
  Before introducing this legislation, both Mr. Lucas and I held public 
information meetings in our districts to seek input from 
representatives of local communities, Indian tribes, effected 
landowners, and concerned citizens on the proposal to include these 
battlefield sites within the National Park System. As we move forward 
with this legislation, we remain committed to a process that guarantees 
full public disclosure and public input. We want national parks that 
all Oklahomans and other citizens of this country can take justified 
pride in, and which enjoy the continued strong support of the local 
communities.
  At this time, I would also like to recognize several people who have 
endeavored for years to designate Honey Springs battlefield as a 
national park. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Leroy Fisher, 
the historian on Honey Springs; Lee Stidham, president of the Friends 
of Honey Springs; Emmy Scott Stidham, and all the other members of the 
Friends; Dr. Bob Blackburn and Mr. J. Blake Wade of the Oklahoma 
Historical Society; Governor David Walters; State Senator Frank 
Shurden; State Representative Chester ``Dusty'' Rhodes; State 
Representative John Bryant; Checotah Mayor Mike Earlywine; Cherokee 
Chief Wilma Mankiller and Deputy Chief John Ketcher; Creek Chief Bill 
Fife; and the many, many others that have labored long and hard to make 
this dream a reality. In addition, I would like to thank officials of 
the National Park Service, including Director Roger Kennedy, Edwin 
Bearss, Chief Historian, and Doug Faris, Associate Regional Director, 
southwest region of the National Park Service and members of their 
staffs for their valuable assistance and support in this endeavor.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all our colleagues to join Congressman Lucas and 
me in support of this important legislation.

                          ____________________