[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING FRANK WORTHINGTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G.K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 21, 2011

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise to properly recognize the life 
and military service of Private Frank Worthington of the United States 
Colored Troops. Private Worthington, a former slave, served during the 
Civil War and on August 13, 2011, his family will remember his life and 
military service at Maplewood Cemetery in Wilson, North Carolina with a 
Civil War headstone dedication ceremony.
  Frank Worthington was born a slave. It was a sad and troubled time in 
our Nation's history. He was a slave on a plantation located in Pitt 
County, North Carolina. Upon escaping from the plantation, he joined 
the United States Colored Troops of the Union Army on December 13, 1864 
in New Bern, North Carolina. Private Worthington served honorably 
through the remainder of the War in Companies B & E of the 14th 
Regiment United States Colored Heavy Artillery.
  Recognizing the brave sacrifices of African American soldiers during 
the Civil War, Private Frank Worthington and 209,144 other names are 
proudly displayed on the Wall of Honor at the new African American 
Civil War Museum which will hold its grand opening on July 18, 2011. 
The new African American Civil War Museum will honor the contributions 
and sacrifices made by African American soldiers during the Civil War 
in the preservation of our Union. The inclusion of Private 
Worthington's name on the Wall of Honor is a worthy tribute, and I know 
his descendants will feel an immense sense of pride knowing that his 
name will be forever included in this wonderful museum.
  Private Worthington will be further remembered on August 13, 2011 
when his family will gather to dedicate an official Civil War headstone 
from the Department of Veterans Affairs. The family has organized a 
three-day reunion, culminating with the dedication of the headstone 
which will forever memorialize his heroic and selfless action on behalf 
of the Union.
  I ask my colleagues join me in offering sincere congratulations and 
our deepest sense of gratitude to the family of Private Frank 
Worthington for receiving, after almost 100 years since his death, the 
proper recognition of a life and military service that contributed 
immensely to our great country. Our Nation is forever indebted to the 
service of Private Frank Worthington and other African Americans who 
served during the Civil War.

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