[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31930]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           STATIA AMERICA DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 15, 2007

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize an 
often overlooked chapter in American history. The tiny island of Sint 
(St.) Eustatius, known locally as ``Statia'', is a quiet and peaceful 
island with pristine coral reefs located in the Dutch Antilles, which 
is part of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean. As the story goes, on 
November 16, 1776, the American Brigantine ``Andrew Doria'', under the 
command of Captain Isaiah Robinson sailed into the harbor of Statia--at 
the time a Dutch Colony--on a mission to obtain a cargo of munitions 
and military supplies. Nearing Fort Oranje, the Andrew Doria fired off 
a 13-gun salute. The cannons of Fort Oranje under the command of 
Governor Johannes de Graaff answered with an 11-gun volley. This volley 
is regarded as the first salute to an American flag on board an 
American warship in a foreign port. Or more simply put, the first 
recognition of America's newly declared independence from Great Britain 
by a foreign power.
  It is unfortunate that down through the years the importance of St. 
Eustatius to the American Revolution has faded into relative obscurity. 
The truth, however, is that a good part of the weapons, ammunition and 
ordinary supplies needed by the Continental Army was imported via St. 
Eustatius. In addition, because of its geographic location and vibrant 
shipping industry, St. Eustatius provided the fastest and, more 
importantly, the safest connection between the Continental Congress and 
America's political supporters overseas. It has been said that Benjamin 
Franklin in particular was known for shipping his mail to Europe 
through St. Eustatius. And John Adams held the commercial connection 
between the fledgling United States and St. Eustatius is such high 
regard that it formed the foundation for his argument that the United 
States should enter into diplomatic relations with the Netherlands.
  Regrettably, it was the impending American-Dutch commercial treaty 
that finally compelled the British to act against St. Eustatius. In 
February 1781, British Admiral George Rodney attacked and captured the 
island, sacking the storehouse and homes in the process. For a time 
after the island surrender the British continued to fly the Dutch flag; 
a ruse which successfully lured many American and other enemy ships 
into captivity. Despite their island being reduced to ruins the people 
of St. Eustatius never lost their love and affection for the people of 
America. And today, November 16th is a national holiday on the Island 
of Sint Eustatius known as Statia America Day. As St. Eustatius 
prepares to celebrate the 231st anniversary of the salute to the Andrew 
Doria, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing and 
saluting the people of St. Eustatius and the important role their tiny 
island played in the fight to win our independence.

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