[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 3, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




10TH ANNIVERSARY OF RAISING THE PATRIOTS OF AFRICAN DESCENT MONUMENT IN 
VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL PARK, VALLEY FORGE ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA 
                             THETA SORORITY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2003

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Valley Forge 
Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and its celebration 
of the 10 year anniversary of the raising of the Patriots of African 
Descent Monument in Valley Forge National Historical Park. Ninety years 
ago, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority started with 22 women, right here 
in our Nation's Capital at Howard University, and has since expanded to 
the 200,000 member, 90 chapter organization that exists today.
  The Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter of this public service organization 
was chartered on February 10, 1991 and has since contributed to the 
local and national community in ways consistent with the organization's 
Five Point Program foci of: educational development, economic 
development, physical and mental health, political awareness and 
international awareness and involvement.
  These contributions are signified in the Chapter's effort and success 
in erecting the Patriots of African Descent Monument in 1993 at Valley 
Forge, one of our Nation's most historical parks. The monument remains 
the only such edifice to be raised in any of the units of the National 
Park system and contributes to the education of visitors to the Park of 
the role African-Americans played in the country's founding. More 
specifically, the monument signifies the tremendous service and 
sacrifice African-American soldiers of the Continental Army provided to 
a fledgling nation.
  The Valley Forge National Park holds great historic value as the site 
dedicated to the Continental Army's bravery, suffering and sacrifice 
that took place during the harsh winter encampment there in 1777-78, 
during which time some 2,000 soldiers died.
  The Patriots of African Descent Monument only furthers the historic 
symbolism of the Park by recognizing the numerous contributions and 
sacrifices of African-Americans during the Revolutionary War, in 
particular the approximately 500 African-American soldiers who suffered 
terribly along with the many other Continental soldiers during the 
long, harsh winter spent in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
  Since the monument's unveiling in 1993, this statue has contributed 
to educating visitors of Valley Forge to the diverse cultures that 
contributed to this Nation's birth and will continue to do so with the 
sustained involvement and efforts of the Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter 
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the Valley Forge Historical Society and 
citizens. I congratulate and commend the Chapter's continued efforts to 
educate future generations regarding historic artifacts and places 
which ``tell the American story'' and recognize the 10 year anniversary 
of the Patriots of African Descent Monument and its symbolic place in 
our Nation's history.

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