[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S1999]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            WILSON K. SMITH

 Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, while on a field trip to a Civil War 
site in the 1950's, a young African-American boy from Delaware asked 
his teacher why there was no mention of black soldiers. He learned a 
cold, hard lesson that day--that even though black soldiers fought and 
died for their country, they were not honored because of the color of 
their skin.
  That field trip ignited what would become a 40-year crusade by a 
Delawarean named Wilson K. Smith. Mr. Smith is a retired Army Sergeant, 
who was decorated with a Bronze Star and Silver Star during the Vietnam 
war as a member of the 101st Airborne Division, First Special Forces. 
In 1957, Sgt. Smith began collecting war stories from black veterans. 
By 1979, he had tracked down all the African-American Congressional 
Medal of Honor recipients. In 1989, he began seeking financial pledges 
and support to build an African-American Medal of Honor monument.
  I am proud to have worked closely with Mr. Smith over the last 5 
years to see the realization of his dream.
  Last month, the names of the 85 African-American Medal of Honor 
recipients were officially recognized in a permanent exhibit at the 
Pentagon. This exhibit replicates a monument honoring black Medal of 
Honor recipients now on permanent display at Morgan State University in 
Baltimore, MD. Mr. Smith was the driving force behind the design and 
fundraising for this monument.
  This monument will help keep the legacy of the African-American 
Congressional Medal of Honor recipients alive for generations to come. 
Never again will young African-American school boys and girls have to 
wonder why black veterans are not honored for their service and 
sacrifice to the United States of America.
  The Medal of Honor is the highest award for bravery in military 
service to our country, but few are aware of the names, faces and 
stories of heroism of the Medal of Honor recipients. These are truly 
inspiring Americans, who continue to serve this country by their 
examples of courage, patriotism, and selfless dedication above and 
beyond the call of duty. From the Civil War to the World Wars to 
Vietnam to the Persian Gulf war, they have been the outstanding 
defenders of liberty, the highest hope of humanity in struggle, and the 
truest representatives of human strength. A memorial to bring that 
inspiration to African-Americans and to all of us, is a most worthy 
endeavor.
  It truly has been my honor and pleasure to have strongly supported 
Wilson Smith's crusade, along with many other national and State 
leaders, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
General Colin Powell. Wilson Smith is an outstanding man, Delawarean, 
U.S. veteran and historian. We all will forever owe him a double debt 
of gratitude for his service to our country.

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