[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 25 (Friday, March 8, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S1709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 224--DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 6, 2002, AS ``NATIONAL 
                           CRAZY HORSE DAY''

  Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. 
Conrad, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Campbell, and Mr. 
Feingold) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 224

       Whereas Crazy Horse was born on Rapid Creek in 1843;
       Whereas during his lifetime, Crazy Horse was a great leader 
     of his people;
       Whereas Crazy Horse was a warrior and a military genius, 
     and his battle strategies are studied to this day at West 
     Point;
       Whereas Crazy Horse was a ``Shirt Wearer'', having duties 
     comparable to those of the Secretary of State;
       Whereas it was only after he saw the treaty of 1868 broken 
     that Crazy Horse defended his people and their way of life in 
     the only manner he knew;
       Whereas Crazy Horse took to battle only after he saw his 
     friend, Conquering Bear, killed and after he saw the failure 
     of Federal Government agents to supply treaty guarantees such 
     as food, clothing, shelter, and necessities for existence; 
     and
       Whereas Crazy Horse was killed at Fort Robinson, Nebraska, 
     on September 6, 1877, when he was only 34 years of age: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 6, 2002, as ``National Crazy Horse 
     Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the Federal Government and State and local 
     governments, interested groups and organizations, and the 
     people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution that 
will commemorate the life of Crazy Horse. I submit this legislation 
along with Senators Dorgan, Ben Nelson, Conrad, Bingaman, Baucus, 
Daschle, Campbell, and Feingold. Crazy Horse was a great leader of his 
people, and the designation of September 6 will be the ultimate 
commendation for his bravery and contribution to Native Americans.
  Crazy Horse was born on Rapid Creek in 1843. He was killed when he 
was only 34 years of age, September 6, 1877. He was stabbed in the back 
by a soldier at Fort Robinson, NE, while he was under U.S. Army 
protection. During his life he was a great leader of his people. Crazy 
Horse was a warrior and a military genius. His battle strategies are 
studied to this day at West Point.
  Crazy Horse was bestowed with the honor of becoming a Shirt Wearer. 
This honor is comparable to duties like that of the Secretary of State.
  Crazy Horse defended his people and their way of life in the only 
manner he knew, but only after he saw the treaty of 1868 broken. He 
took to the warpath only after he saw his friend Conquering Bear 
killed; only after he saw the failure of the government agents to bring 
required treaty guarantees such as food, clothing, shelter and 
necessities for existence. In battle the Sioux war leader would rally 
his warriors with the cry, ``It is a good day to fight--it is a good 
day to die.''
  Throughout recent history, a memorial commemorating the life of this 
great warrior is under construction in my State of South Dakota. I 
would like to take these efforts one step further and designate 
September 6, 2002, the 125th anniversary of Crazy Horse's death, as 
``National Crazy Horse Day.''
  I urge my colleagues to join me in the commemoration of this great 
hero.

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