[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4910]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               A SALUTE TO THE GREAT LAKES NAVY BANDSMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 27, 2003

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I come before the House Chamber this evening 
pleased and honored to salute the over five thousand African American 
musicians who, during World War I, played in the band of the Great 
Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. These highly talented musicians played an 
important part in our nation's history and this weekend, many of them 
will be reuniting for the first time in over fifty years.
  If you were black and in the Navy before 1942, the only service you 
could render is that of mess attendant or steward. These positions were 
lowly and limited. So, in an effort to elevate their position and 
further integrate America's armed forces, then President Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt recruited and trained black musicians for service in a 
Naval band. These men became the members of the Great Lakes Band.
  During the war, these extraordinary musicians traveled around the 
country lifting the spirits of servicemen and civilians with their 
melodies. In fact, it has been said that there has never been so many 
good musicians at any one place, at any one time, as there were at 
Great Lakes.
  In spite of their committed and unprecedented service to our country, 
there is little awareness of their contributions and acknowledgments 
have been few. Mr. Speaker, that is why, especially as we come to the 
end of Black History Month, I believe it is highly appropriate, to ask 
my colleagues to join me in a salute to these extraordinary veterans. 
Their contributions are far-reaching, long-lasting, and worthy of our 
praise.

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