[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   CELEBRATING THE UNVEILING OF THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS 
                     MONUMENT IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 21, 2022

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, today I join the Western New 
York community in celebrating and honoring the service of African 
American veterans throughout the history of the United States military. 
For decades, our country ignored the unjust conditions in which African 
Americans had served in our armed forces. When others returned home 
from war, they were heralded as heroes. When African Americans returned 
home from war, our nation denied their humanity and their equal rights. 
Thankfully, a committee in Buffalo, New York has dedicated its time and 
energy into recognizing this reality. Now, the African American 
Veterans Monument will stand on the Buffalo waterfront as a constant 
reminder to all its citizens of the immense sacrifices that have been 
made.


 =========================== NOTE =========================== 

  
  September 21, 2022, on page E962, in the first column, the 
following appeared: Mr HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, today I join the 
Western New York community in celebrating and honoring the service 
of African
  
  The online version has been corrected to read: Mr. HIGGINS of 
New York. Madam Speaker, today I join the Western New York 
community in celebrating and honoring the service of African


 ========================= END NOTE ========================= 


  From the Revolutionary War to the present day, millions of African 
Americans have served this country with valor. There are currently more 
than 360,000 African American soldiers in our military. We have an 
additional 2.1 million African American veterans. Over 200,000 African 
Americans served in the Union Army during the Civil War and over 1 
million African Americans served in WWII. In total, 89 African 
Americans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the most prestigious 
military decoration awarded to U.S. service members. This type of 
unquestionable loyalty and service cannot go unrecognized. Leaders in 
the Western New York community, led by New York State Assembly Majority 
Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes, were not about to let that happen.
  This monument will honor our African American veterans in the same 
way they served our country: with integrity, strength, and resilience. 
The first of its kind, this monument will be unveiled on September 24, 
2022, at Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park. The date 
commemorates the anniversary of the preliminary Emancipation 
Proclamation Act, the law that first allowed African Americans to join 
the armed forces. Every aspect of this monument was carefully 
constructed. It will feature twelve black concrete pillars to symbolize 
all twelve major campaigns that African Americans have fought in. The 
top of each pillar is illuminated to represent the candles that 
families would put in windows to guide their soldiers to safety. These 
lights will continuously glow to remind us that service does not end 
when a soldier comes home; it is a commitment that can never be 
properly repaid.
  Nevertheless, I trust that the African American Veterans Monument can 
be the first of many steps to thoroughly appreciate our brave and 
selfless veterans in the African American community. I am so proud to 
represent countless African American veterans and those who recognized 
the necessity of this monument. This is long overdue.

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