[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 124 (Thursday, September 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7741-H7742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN AND FRENCH VICTORY AT
YORKTOWN DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 748) recognizing the 225th anniversary of
the American and French victory at Yorktown, Virginia, during the
Revolutionary War.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 748
Whereas at Yorktown, Virginia, on October 19, 1781, General
George Washington and the American and French armies received
the surrender of Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis and
nearly 7,100 British soldiers and sailors, ending nine days
of siege operations against the British army;
Whereas the victory at Yorktown concluded the last major
battle of the American Revolution, effectively ending the war
and securing for the colonies their independence by providing
a military conclusion to the political declaration issued
five years earlier;
Whereas Virginia, as the largest and most populous of the
original 13 colonies and the home of General Washington,
Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Thomas Nelson, Jr., and
other leaders of the American Revolution, is blessed with a
rich history of noteworthy contributions to the struggle to
secure liberty and democracy;
Whereas in 1983 the Virginia General Assembly designated
the 19th day of October of each year to be recognized and
celebrated as Yorktown Day throughout the Commonwealth of
Virginia; and
Whereas the 2006 observance of Yorktown Day celebrates the
225th anniversary of the American and French victory at
Yorktown: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the
225th anniversary of the American and French victory at
Yorktown, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War and reminds
the American people of the debt the United States owes to its
armed forces and the important role Yorktown and the
Commonwealth of Virginia played in securing their liberty.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
General Leave
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
On October 19, 1781, Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant General Charles
Cornwallis and nearly 7,100 British soldiers surrendered to General
George Washington in Yorktown, Virginia. This surrender almost 225
years ago ended the American and French 9-day siege against the British
troops, and it signaled the end of the last major battle of the
American Revolution.
This day in history also solidified the political declaration of
independence made by the colonies 5 years later, and it opened the door
to America becoming the democracy our forefathers envisioned.
We are most fortunate to live in this Nation, and I urge all Members
to join me in supporting this resolution recognizing the 225th
anniversary of the American and French Victory at Yorktown.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, Yorktown was established by Virginia's colonial
government in 1691 to regulate trade and to collect taxes on both
imports and exports for Great Britain. Over time, the waterfront with
wharves, docks, storehouses, and businesses developed. On the bluff
above the waterfront, stately homes lined Main Street. Taverns and
shops were scattered throughout the town. By the early 1700s, Yorktown
had emerged as a major Virginia port and economic center.
Today, Yorktown is best known as the site where the British army
under General Charles Lord Cornwallis was forced to surrender on
October 19, 1781, to General George Washington's combined American and
French army. Upon hearing of their defeat, British Prime Minister
Frederick Lord North is reputed to have said, ``Oh, God, it's
[[Page H7742]]
all over.'' And it was. The victory secured independence for the United
States and significantly changed the course of world history.
H. Res. 748 recognizes the 225th anniversary of the American and
French victory at Yorktown, Virginia, during the Revolutionary War; and
I strongly support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume
to my distinguished colleague from the Commonwealth of Virginia, Mrs.
Davis.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support
of my resolution, H. Res. 748, recognizing the 225th anniversary of the
American and French victory at Yorktown, Virginia, during the
Revolutionary War.
I am very proud to represent America's First Congressional District.
While next year my district will be host to the 400th anniversary
celebration of the founding of Jamestown, this month marks another
significant anniversary in our Nation's history: the victory at
Yorktown.
It is a privilege every year on October 19 to celebrate Yorktown Day.
The Revolution secured independence for the United States and
significantly changed the course of world history. The American
Revolution took place from Maine to Florida and as far west as Arkansas
and Louisiana, but it was Yorktown battlefield that saw the final
battle of the American Revolution, with the surrender of General
Cornwallis's British army to General George Washington's American-
French allied army in October, 1781.
By the end of September, 1781, Washington's army of 17,600
Continental soldiers and French allies had surrounded Cornwallis' 8,300
British, German, and Loyalist troops and laid siege to Yorktown,
leading to the surrender of Cornwallis on October 19, 1781. And my
colleague from Illinois said it best when he quoted Prime Minister
Frederick Lord North when he said, ``Oh, God, it's all over.'' The
allied victory at Yorktown effectively ended the war.
In 1931, Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary of the Interior, commented,
``To declare independence is one thing; to achieve it is another. Here
it was actually achieved . . . The victory at Yorktown gave us that
independence which the American patriots had boldly proclaimed to the
world.''
Mr. Speaker, it is that independence that we so cherish and enjoy
here in the United States of America today. It is our freedoms that our
wonderful men and women in the military continue to fight for today,
and it started back in 1781 with the victory at Yorktown.
Mr. Speaker, with that, I urge all of my colleagues to support this
resolution honoring a significant historical event in our Nation's
history.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 748.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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