[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 82 (Monday, May 19, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H4069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CARVING OF THE
CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1074) honoring the 60th anniversary of the
commencement of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1074
Whereas sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who never received any
formal art training but nonetheless won 1st place for
sculpture at the New York World's Fair in 1939, came to the
Black Hills of South Dakota as an assistant to Gutzon Borglum
to help carve Mount Rushmore;
Whereas Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted Korczak
Ziolkowski in 1939 to encourage him to create another
mountain memorial, saying in his letter of invitation: ``My
fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red
man has great heroes, too'';
Whereas Crazy Horse was remembered by his people as a
fierce warrior and visionary leader who was committed to
preserving the traditional Lakota way of life;
Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski was inspired to honor the
culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American
Indians, and thus designed a metaphoric tribute to the spirit
of Crazy Horse and his people;
Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski was dedicated as well to helping
his country preserve freedom, enlisted in the Army, and was
wounded in 1944 at Omaha Beach;
Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski returned to South Dakota after
World War II in order to find a suitable mountain to carve in
order to honor Crazy Horse and his people;
Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski and Chief Standing Bear
dedicated the Crazy Horse Memorial on June 3, 1948;
Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski worked until his death in 1982,
and his wife, Ruth, and their family have dedicated their
lives to carving the mountain and continuing the mission of
the Crazy Horse Memorial;
Whereas there is no way to predict when the mountain
carving will be completed, owing to the uncertainty of
weather, the availability of funding, and the challenges of
mountain engineering;
Whereas, when completed, the Crazy Horse mountain carving
will be the largest carving in the world, at 641 feet long by
563 feet high;
Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski's parting words to his wife
were, ``You must work on the mountain--but go slowly so you
do it right'';
Whereas the Ziolkowski family and the Crazy Horse Memorial
Foundation have continued to do it right, and have proceeded
without government financial support, and remain dedicated to
making steady progress on the Memorial's humanitarian goals;
and
Whereas the Crazy Horse Memorial will celebrate the 60th
anniversary of the dedication of the mountain carving on June
3, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives, on the 60th
anniversary of the commencement of the mountain carving of
the Crazy Horse Memorial, honors sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski,
the Ziolkowski family, and the Crazy Horse Memorial
Foundation for their dedication to honoring the culture,
tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians and
the spirit of Crazy Horse and his people.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.
General Leave
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in 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
gentlewoman from Guam?
There was no objection.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, Lakota leader Crazy Horse is remembered by
his people as a fierce warrior and visionary leader who was committed
to preserving the traditional Lakota way of life.
A young sculptor named Korczak Ziolkowski, who served as an assistant
sculptor during the carving of Mount Rushmore, was approached by Chief
Standing Bear and asked to create another mountain memorial, this time
to honor a great American Indian leader.
Inspired by the life and legacy of Crazy Horse, the sculptor began a
mountain memorial carving of Crazy Horse nearly 60 years ago in the
Black Hills of South Dakota. The memorial upon completion will be the
largest carving in the entire world, at 641 feet long by 563 feet high.
I would like to commend our colleague from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth
Sandlin) for sponsoring the resolution that is before us today, and I
ask my colleagues to support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1074,
and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1074 has been adequately explained by
the majority. I urge its adoption, recognizing that it is, in fact,
privately funded, has never taken Federal dollars in its construction,
and continues to this day. I think it's a worthwhile project to
recognize, and I urge the passage of this resolution.
Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House
Resolution 1074 which honors the 60th anniversary of the commencement
of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial located in the Black Hills
of South Dakota.
I was proud to introduce this resolution that recognizes 60 years of
work on the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when completed, will be the
largest carving in the world. In 1939, upon witnessing the carving of
Mt. Rushmore, Dakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted sculptor
Korczak Ziolkowski. Chief Standing Bear encouraged Ziolkowski to create
a mountain memorial, writing ``My fellow chiefs and I would like the
white man to know the red man has great heroes, too.''
On June 3, 1948, the mountain was dedicated and carving began. Though
Mr. Ziolkowski passed away in 1982, his wife, Ruth, and their family
continue to make progress on carving the mountain. To this end, they
have established the Crazy Horse Foundation which is dedicated to
honoring the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American
Indians and the spirit of Crazy Horse. There is no projected completion
date for the Crazy Horse Memorial due to the availability of funding
and to natural challenges, such as weather and the structure of the
mountain.
On June 3rd, 2008, the Crazy Horse Memorial will commemorate the 60th
anniversary since Chief Standing Bear's dedication of the mountain. I
thank my colleagues in joining me in celebrating the accomplishments of
the Ziolkowski family, recognizing the legacy of Crazy Horse, and
honoring the contributions and sacrifices of the Lakota nation and all
Native Americans.
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge all of my colleagues to
support the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1074.
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. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
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.
The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.
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