[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H834-H837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING THE COURAGE OF THE HAITIAN SOLDIERS THAT FOUGHT FOR
AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN THE ``SIEGE OF SAVANNAH''
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 909) commemorating the courage of the
Haitian soldiers that fought for American independence in the ``Siege
of Savannah'' and for Haiti's independence and renunciation of slavery,
as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 909
Whereas in the fall of 1779, Haitian soldiers of the
Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint Domingue volunteered to join
in the fight for American independence;
Whereas the unit was comprised of over 500 men of color
from the island of Haiti;
Whereas on October 9, 1779, the soldiers of Chasseurs-
Volontaires de Saint Domingue served as the largest unit of
soldiers of African descent to fight in the ``Siege of
Savannah'';
Whereas records show that over 500 men sailed treacherous
waters to join the effort against the British;
Whereas over 300 of them lost their lives attempting to
drive the British from Savannah;
[[Page H835]]
Whereas the Savannah Monument, a project of the Haitian
American Historical Society represents the Haitian soldiers
that fought in the ``Siege of Savannah'';
Whereas the Savannah Monument was erected in Savannah,
Georgia on Monday, October 8, 2007, to recognize the Haitian
involvement in the fight for American independence; and
Whereas the Savannah Monument includes a statue of a 12-
year-old drummer boy, depicting Mr. Henri Christophe, who
became a leader in Haiti's Revolution to gain independence
and renounce slavery: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives commemorates
the courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American
independence in the ``Siege of Savannah'' and for Haiti's
independence and renunciation of slavery.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr.
Boozman) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.
General Leave
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on the resolution under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from American Samoa?
There was no objection.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
First, I would like to thank the chief sponsor, my good friend and
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek), for his introduction
of this resolution, which commemorates the courage of the Haitian
soldiers who fought alongside our Revolutionary soldiers for gaining
independence from Great Britain.
House Resolution 909 also recognizes the establishment of the Haitian
Memorial Monument, which celebrates the historical bond between the
good people of Haiti and the United States, and demonstrates the
significance of our Haitian American community.
Mr. Speaker, the Haitian Memorial Monument, designed by the Haitian-
Canadian sculptor Gregroire Anocles, represents the war effort at the
Siege of Savannah in the year 1779.
Haiti's involvement in the fight for America's independence some 226
years ago is a source of national pride for many Haitians, and it is
long overdue that we attach the proper importance to this Haitian
participation.
After returning home, Haitian veterans of the Revolutionary War led
their own rebellion and revolution against French colonialism, and
eventually received independence from France in the year 1804. Mr.
Speaker, in becoming independent, Haiti became the first free country
in the Western Hemisphere led entirely by people of African descent.
I strongly support this resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to
vote in favor of this proposed bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of House Resolution 909, and I join my colleagues
in recognizes the valuable contribution and significant sacrifice that
Haitians made as they joined the fight for American independence over
two centuries ago.
In the fall of 1779, over 500 courageous men volunteered to cross the
treacherous waters from Haiti to the U.S., to join our soldiers in the
Siege of Savannah. This was no easy feat; yet these men were committed
to fighting for America's liberty and independence.
Representing the largest contingent of soldiers of African descent to
fight in the American Revolution, these Haitian troops bravely joined
in our efforts, forging the friendship between the U.S. and Haiti that
has only strengthened in the centuries that followed.
Sadly, such courage had a high price. More than 300 Haitians lost
their lives in this battle. Last year, a monument to this glorious
sacrifice was erected in Savannah, Georgia. The collaborative efforts
of local officials in Georgia and the Haitian American Historical
Society of Miami guided this project to completion.
Today, the Savannah monument stands as a tribute to those individual
foreign volunteers who joined in the American Revolution and
commemorates the historic bond between the U.S. and Haiti.
H. Res. 909 further commemorates Haiti's own struggle for
independence and renunciation of slavery. What began as a slave revolt
in 1791 ended with Haiti's own independence in 1804. And Haiti was the
first nation in the Western Hemisphere to form a government led by the
people of African descent and, remarkably, it was also the first nation
in the Western Hemisphere to renounce slavery.
For this reason, I am proud to stand with my congressional colleagues
in calling for the passage of this important resolution. Yet we must
also recognize that there is more to be done.
Despite Haiti's early and historic commitment to democracy, the
country continues to languish under the oppression of extreme poverty,
disease, and violence. As a significant partner in the region, the U.S.
must remain not only cognizant of Haiti's progress but also engaged in
its development. We cannot be fully successful as a hemisphere without
Haiti fulfilling its potential as a strong and vibrant nation.
I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) for introducing
H. Res. 909 and am proud to join in the commemoration of such
courageous individuals.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I yield such
time as he may consume to the chief sponsor of this proposed
legislation, my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek).
Mr. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for
the very kind words they have given about this great piece of
legislation, this resolution.
I think it is very, very important, Mr. Speaker, that we come
together as a country and celebrate the contributions of other
countries and the roles that they played in assisting us not only with
our independence but making it concrete.
Mr. Speaker, as we look at House Resolution 909, I want to give my
sincere thanks to the Committee on Foreign Affairs for bringing this
resolution to the floor, and especially shed light on Chairman Lantos
for his forward-leaning and making sure that this resolution made it
through the process. And he will be forever missed here in this body.
And hopefully his memory will continue on, not only on the committee,
but here in Congress.
I think it is also important that we pause to not only thank staff
but also thank Haitian Americans throughout this country that have
fought very hard on behalf of this country, not only in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and other theaters, but have contributed in many other
areas. And that is where this bill came about.
The Haitian American Historical Society in Miami, Florida, moved
forth with a monument in Savannah of the great battle, and I had an
opportunity to go there recently. And there are a number of Haitians
and those that care about the well-being of Haiti that wanted to make
sure that the contributions of these soldiers were recognized in a way
that will be able to allow not only this generation but future
generations to understand Haiti's contributions.
When you start talking about 500 freed Haitian slaves traveling to
Savannah, Georgia, to be a part of a multinational force to fight on
behalf of this country against the Brits at that particular time, and
to be in the same city where you had people who look like me that were
enslaved, and traveling to Savannah is a very moving experience for
every American, because so many battles have taken place there and it
is such a historical and beautiful city that you can't help but pause
to think about the courage.
So for us to be on the floor, Mr. Speaker and Members, to not only
talk but to pass, hopefully, this resolution will be the first time in
the history of the Republic that we have actually said thank you to
Haiti, that we have said thank you to the families of the 300 to 500
troops that actually traveled to Savannah to fight on our behalf. I
don't believe it is too late, but I think that it is very appropriate
for us to be on the floor and allow the Members to show their
appreciation for their contributions.
[[Page H836]]
As we celebrate not only the contributions of these soldiers but we
also shed light with our Members and Americans about the contributions
that Haitians have made, I think, as we look at this debate and we look
at what we are doing for Haiti right now, we must bring Americans up to
speed on the history. The fact that these freed slaves came to Savannah
and fought, and the fact that Haiti was one of the first countries to
denounce slavery and to fight for their own independence, to fight
Napoleon that pushed him to carry out the Louisiana Purchase with the
United States of America, these Haitian fighters traveled throughout
the Western Hemisphere and played a very strong role in allowing the
United States to be who we are.
So when we start talking about assistance for Haiti, it is not like
it is a one-way street; it is a two-way street. And I am proud to
represent a constituency where we have more Haitians than anywhere else
in the United States of America, but Haitians throughout the diaspora,
this will be a very proud day for them; and I believe it will be a very
proud day for them when we vote in the affirmative.
When we look at the contributions of Mr. Henry Christopher who fought
in the American Revolutionary War, to use his experience from the first
free government in the Western Hemisphere, and when we look at what the
Haitian Americans Historical Society has spent a number of years to be
able to not only bring the Haitian American history to the Congress but
to also bring to everyday Americans, I think it is very, very
important, Mr. Speaker, that Members share with their constituency the
contribution of these great men, and to be able to make sure that we
share the history of all communities that have come to this country to
make us strong.
Once again, I want to thank the committee, and I want to also thank
the staff that has worked very hard on it. I know that we have other
Members that want to speak in affirming the passage of this
legislation. But I am personally moved because I represent a number of
individuals that, when we look at immigration policy, when we look at
aid to Haiti, when we look at our interventions when coups have taken
place in Haiti, as recent as the 82nd Airborne, when we look at those
in the State Department that serve within the Foreign Service and the
conditions that they have to work under, when we also look at the Peace
Corps and other organizations like it, religious institutions, a number
of NGOs, that we call nongovernmental organizations, and what they do
and where they live in the rural parts of Haiti, providing not only
education and food; when we look at their contributions and we look at
the conditions they have to work under now as Haiti struggles with
natural disasters and struggles with hard economic times, this
legislation will help enshrine not only the contributions of Haitians
towards the United States, but also Americans returning not only the
favor but the goodwill back to the great country of Haiti.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge the Members to vote in the affirmative
on House Resolution 909.
{time} 1545
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Florida's
hard work and thoughtfulness in bringing this bill before the House,
and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I join him as a fellow
member of the Foreign Affairs Committee to applaud and congratulate the
distinguished gentleman from Florida who has a long history of
representing Haitians in Florida, and who has a long history of concern
for the Haitian people both today and in the past.
As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and one who has traveled
to Haiti and visited individuals who were incarcerated because of their
beliefs in democracy, this commemoration is important because it
reemphasizes the long-standing friendship between the United States and
the Haitian people.
I am saddened by the journey that Haitians have had to take over the
last decade from Baby Doc and the oppressive leadership that they have
had in past years, and their desire of necessity to flee because of
persecution to the United States; and then, of course, the double
standard between the wet feet/dry feet immigration policies where many
of them have been treated in a discriminatory fashion.
This accolade is long overdue. I might acknowledge the fact that this
was in the early years of our beginning. It was in the dawn of October
9, 1779, that this battle was fought on the western outskirts of
Savannah, what was unquestionably the second bloodiest battle of the
entire 8 years of the American War for Independence. Can we imagine
that. These brave soldiers left their soil, many, many miles away from
our land, about 750 Haitian freemen fought alongside colonial troops
against the British in the Siege of Savannah on October 9, 1779. In a
single hour, there fell within the area of a few hundred square yards
more dead and wounded than are credited to any other battlefield in the
struggle for American independence except for Bunker Hill. The valor of
these brave men deserve to be commemorated, and I am proud to be a
cosponsor of this legislation.
Of course, we know that American history is intertwined with many
brave persons from places far and wide. But I think this statement
today also cements the importance of Haiti today as we fight against
the extensive poverty that exists now today, as we try to assist them
in building their democratic government, as we try to reemphasize a
friendship between the United States and Haiti, and in essence
apologize for some of the interventions that could be considered coups
that resulted from policies utilized in this country.
I would say this is a very important statement that again reinforces
the relationship and again talks about the bravery of these Haitian
soldiers.
At a time when we are engaged in a global war on terror, joined by
our friends and allies, it is imperative that we recognize the service
and dedication provided in the past by foreign countries like Haiti.
Mr. Speaker, I close my words by congratulating Mr. Meek again for
this outstanding legislation; but more importantly, thanking the
Haitian people, even though it may be somewhat late.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 909, commemorating
the courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American
independence in the ``Siege of Savannah'' for Haiti's independence and
renunciation of slavery, introduced by my distinguished colleague
Congressman Kendrick Meek of Florida. This is to be commended because
it helps to educate Americans about the significant contributions made
by Haitian ancestors.
Mr. Speaker, in the early dawn of October 9, 1779, there was fought,
on the then western outskirts of Savannah, what was unquestionably the
second bloodiest battle of the entire 8 years of the American War
for Independence. About 750 Haitian freemen fought alongside colonial
troops against the British in the ``Siege of Savannah'' on October 9,
1779. In a single hour there fell within an area of a few hundred
square yards more dead and wounded than are credited to any other
battlefield in the struggle for American independence except for Bunker
Hill. The valor of those brave men deserves to be commemorated, and I
am proud to cosponsor this legislation honoring their bravery and
sacrifice.
The year before, the city of Savannah, Georgia, had been captured by
a British expeditionary corps under Lieutenant Colonel Archibald
Campbell. On October 9, 1779, there was an attempt to retake Savannah
from the British. The siege itself consisted of a joint effort with
America, France, and Haiti. This battle represents the Revolutionary
War as an international conflict more than any other engagement of the
Revolution. It was the first time the French fought alongside the
colonial army. This battle reminds us that the contribution of foreign
resources, men, money, and material helped lead to the eventual success
of the American cause for independence. It is important to provide
recognition for the efforts of Haiti and their role in helping to
liberate America from British rule.
At a time in our country when we are engaged in a global war on
terror, joined by our friends and allies, it is imperative that we
recognize the service and dedication provided in the past by foreign
countries like Haiti. Many of the foreign allied soldiers, including
Haitians, who sacrificed during the process of America gaining freedom
and independence, have not been recognized for their contributions to
this Nation. Some were never told,
[[Page H837]]
``thank you'' for helping to better our society and contributing to our
freedom. Too many were forgotten and unrecognized for their diligence,
commitment and sacrifices.
As we continue to celebrate the month of February and Black History
Month, let us be mindful of the Haitian soldiers and the numerous
others of the African diaspora that renounced slavery and aided in the
formation of our great Nation. I urge my colleagues to support this
resolution honoring the courage of the Haitian soldiers who fought for
American independence and renunciation of slavery .
Mr. BOOZMAN. Again, I appreciate the hard work of the gentleman from
Florida in bringing this forward. I would urge my fellow Congressmen to
vote ``yes'' on this very timely resolution, and having no further
speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank my good friend from Arkansas for management
of this legislation and commend the gentleman from Florida and the
gentlewoman from Texas for their eloquent statements concerning this
legislation.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 909
introduced by Representative Kendrick Meek of Florida commemorating the
courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American independence
in the Siege of Savannah and for Haiti's independence and renunciation
of slavery.
H. Res. 909 recognizes the honorable act of the Haitian soldiers of
the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint Domingue who volunteered to join the
fight for American independence in the fall of 1779. Already in the
fifth year of the American Revolution, Americans were growing weary of
gaining independence when the Haitians stepped in. Today, we give them
our gratitude for their bravery in sending over 500 soldiers to aid us
in our fight for independence. We also remember and honor their
sacrifice of over 300 men lost during the Siege of Savannah in October
1779.
I hold Haiti's achievements of being the world's first black-led
republic and the first Caribbean state to achieve independence in high
esteem. However, Haiti continues to struggle against poverty and
instability. This is why we need to commemorate the landmark of the
brave actions of the 500 Haitians who fought alongside Americans for
our freedom.
It is important that we honor the progress of states in the 21st
century continuing the fight against racially driven injustice. I would
like to mention that H.R. 3432, which I introduced in August 2007, was
signed into law by the President last week on February 5, 2008. This
bill called for the establishment of the commission on the abolition of
the transatlantic slave trade.
As Haiti still struggles to find her own model of peace and liberty,
we extend our support by commemorating the loyalty of Haitians to the
U.S. Haitians played a vital role in America's path to independence and
freedom.
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of H. Res. 909
``Commemorating the Courage of the Haitian Soldiers That Fought for
American Independence in the Siege of Savannah and for Haiti's
Independence and Renunciation of Slavery.''
This resolution highlights the heroism displayed by 900 Haitian
soldiers in Savannah during the American Revolutionary War and is a
source of great inspiration and pride for all Haitians. I am not
surprised by the indomitable spirit of these Haitian soldiers who so
courageously defended America's fight for independence.
On October 9, 1779, the soldiers of Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint
Domingue, Haiti, served as the largest unit of soldiers of African
descent to fight in the Siege of Savannah alongside American and French
forces. The monument in Savannah serves as a tribute to the hundreds of
Haitian volunteers who took great risk and traveled by sea to fight for
American freedom during the Revolutionary War. Today, I heartily
applaud the Haitian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for our
country.
MR. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 909, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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