[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 21, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H3766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                       RECOGNIZING VFW POST 7814

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Cline) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th 
anniversary of the Thomas-Fields Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7814, 
which was founded on July 11, 1946.
  When African-American veterans of World War II returned to their 
homes in the Staunton-Augusta area, they were, unfortunately, excluded 
from their local VFW Post. Following their denied admittance, a group 
of 42 veterans then applied for a charter to organize their own post, 
which would carry the namesakes of Charles Thomas and Glenwood Fields, 
two African Americans from Staunton who died while serving their 
country in World War II.
  Since its formation, the Thomas-Fields Post has been an active civic 
organization in the African-American community of Staunton and Augusta 
County, as well as playing an active and significant role in local area 
veterans' activities.
  While the post welcomes all veterans, it continues to highlight the 
heritage of African-American and minority veterans who have served our 
Nation.
  Recently, Post 7814 was recognized as a Meritorious Post by the State 
VFW Federation for its outstanding work over the last 5 years and was 
also named an All-American Post by the National VFW Council for the 
first time in its history.
  The Thomas-Fields VFW Post is to be commended for its work in our 
community and their efforts to aid those who served. I congratulate 
them on this historic milestone and wish them another successful 75 
years.

                              {time}  1100


                       Support the People of Cuba

  Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my support for the Cuban 
people who have taken to the streets to protest the oppressive 
Communist regime there, a regime that has stripped them of their basic 
human rights.
  Since its inception 62 years ago, the Communist Party has caused 
immeasurable harm and created unbearable conditions in Cuba.
  Cuba's people want freedom. They want to provide for their families 
and know that their kids will be safe and healthy--and Cuba is not that 
place, and it hasn't been that place for far too long.
  Right now, its people are facing widespread power outages, the most 
severe food shortage since the 1990s and inflation rates nearing 500 
percent.
  In an effort to contain the truth about what is really going on, the 
government cut off its citizens' access to the internet to silence the 
dissent.
  Instead of trying to address the issues plaguing the island nation, 
they have, instead, decided to suppress those voicing concern. Since 
the protest began, more than 100 people have been detained or have gone 
missing, including artists, peace activists, and priests. It should be 
no surprise that Cubans are marching in the streets demanding their 
rights.
  We have all seen the images of people waving American flags and 
fleeing in makeshift boats overflowing with folks willing to risk their 
lives to experience freedom. They want what we are so blessed to have, 
and, yet, there is a segment of our society bent on pushing the United 
States toward the failed notion of communism and socialism. It is mind-
boggling.
  We must stand strongly for freedom, stand firmly with the people, and 
stand boldly with a free Cuba.

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