[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 2377]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             SUPPORT AFRICAN AMERICAN WORLD WAR II VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 2000

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, most people do not realize that 
African Americans were central contributors to the allied victory in 
World War II and served in numeric proportion to their presence in the 
population. Over 1.2 million African American men and women served in 
the Armed Forces during the war. Unfortunately, over the decades, the 
popular culture of major films and books fail to acknowledge. A few 
efforts have been made to tell the story of a small number of the 
participants such as the HBO film on the Tuskeegee Airman. However, in 
the mainstream of Americana African American World War II veterans are 
ignored and bypassed.
  To make sure these brave men and women don't pass before their 
sacrifices are recognized, I am asking for your support of the ``Day of 
Honor 2000'' project. The ``Day of Honor 2000'' project is an organized 
effort to provide a national city by city special event honoring 
African American World War II veterans. It is undertaken to provide 
some measure of clear public acknowledgment and appreciation of the 
sacrifices of a generation who served America under some of the most 
trying conditions experienced by any group of Americans in World War 
II. Day of Honor activities includes an appreciation reception with 
local African American World War II veterans who will make remarks on 
behalf of their comrades present and fallen. These veterans will be 
presented with Oral History Collection Kits which will be used to 
record their individual stories for future generations. These oral 
histories will be transcribed and forwarded to major museums focusing 
on World War II history. The reception also includes a premier 
screening of the critically acclaimed documentary film ``The Invisible 
Soldier: Unheard Voices.'' The ``Day of Honor 2000'' project will 
culminate with a major event in Washington, DC on May 25th.
  If you have any questions or would like to sign on to the bill, 
please contact Nick Martinelli in my office at 225-0123.

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