[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5935-5936]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE LIFE OF SERGEANT PETER HART

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 13, 2011

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the 
life and legacy of Sergeant Peter Hart, a soldier and New York City 
Police Officer, who served in the American Civil War.
  Sergeant Hart will be remembered for valiantly leaving New York to 
join in the defense of Fort Sumter in January 1861. Major Robert 
Anderson, Commander of Fort Sumter, had served with him in the Mexican 
American War. As tensions between the North and South increased, Major 
Anderson's wife requested Sergeant Hart join the defense of Fort 
Sumter. Early in the morning of April 12, 1861 the first shots of the 
American Civil War rang out. By afternoon the shelling had knocked the 
American flag from the flagstaff flying over the fort. Sergeant Hart 
proudly retrieved the fallen flag, climbed up the flagstaff and 
successfully reattached it. His refusal to allow the flag to lie

[[Page 5936]]

torn and tattered serves as a symbol of the unwavering spirit of all 
Americans who defend our Nation in the Civil War.
  I offer my recognition of Sergeant Peter Hart on the 150th 
anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. Sergeant Hart's 
courage not only inspired the brave men at Fort Sumter. His patriotic 
spirit and devotion to our Nation continues to inspire Americans today.

                          ____________________