[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 151 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MEMORIAL TO THE BUFFALO SOLDIERS AT FORT VANCOUVER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an 
important chapter in my region's history that must be remembered, and 
it is significant to our whole Nation: the service of African American 
regiments known as buffalo soldiers.
  Their service stations included Fort Vancouver; and afterward, some 
of them made our region their permanent home, men like Willie ``Bill'' 
Morehouse, who served their Nation with courage and honor.
  The buffalo soldiers' place in southwest Washington history began in 
April of 1899. That date marks the assignment of buffalo soldiers from 
Company B of the 24th Infantry to the barracks at Fort Vancouver. This 
was also the first time in history that a unit from one of the Army's 
four African American regiments was included in Fort Vancouver's 
regular garrison of troops.
  The buffalo soldiers' contributions to our Nation continued 
throughout subsequent conflicts.
  Two years ago, we lost a pillar within the greater Vancouver 
community, a member and president of the Moses Williams Pacific 
Northwest Chapter of the buffalo soldiers, ``Bill'' Morehouse.
  Bill was a member of the United States Army and the National Guard 
early in his life, with his military service spanning World War II and 
the Fort Vancouver barracks as a POW guard.
  His contributions to our community went beyond his military service. 
Bill led toy and food drives for underprivileged kids, and he provided 
honor guard at military ceremonies and parades.
  In just a few days, on September 21, a ceremony will take place to 
dedicate a permanent memorial at Fort Vancouver to Bill and to the 
buffalo soldiers so he will be honorably remembered. This memorial will 
help mark their unwavering commitment to our country, a commitment they 
made in the face of racism, unfair treatment, and adversity, policies 
of the past.
  I am proud that their legacy will live on in Vancouver, that their 
fight will live on, and I pledge to do whatever I can to ensure that 
the buffalo soldiers' stories of service and sacrifice are not 
forgotten.

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