Mr. Speaker, on July 18, 1998 the African-American Civil War Memorial was dedicated in Washington, DC. This memorial pays tribute to the Black soldiers who fought in the Union Army to end slavery and preserve the United States of America as one nation committed to freedom and justice for all. Among the words of praise given for these brave souls was a poem written by San Francisco columnist and civic leader Noah Griffin. I submit for the Record To The Massachusetts 54th, In Memoriam, a tribute to one of the black regiments which fought in the Civil War.
When the drumbeat and the fife subside
And the celebration's done,
When the memory of the men who died
Both North and South is one.
This regiment will still shine forth
In annals of the free:
The Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth
Who fought for Liberty.
Abe Lincoln had refused to act,
Moreover, Stanton too.
The one to recognize the fact
Was the Governor John Andrew.
He fought to do what saved the war:
Bring Blacks into the fray.
For up 'til then there'd been a bar
By both the Blue and Grey.
When Lincoln signed the document
Which brought Emancipation,
The administration did relent,
Accompanying authorization.
From the Commonwealth the call rang out:
`Come Colored Men to Arms.'
Amid the ridicule and doubt
They answered war's alarm.
They came from city and the farm;
Left sweethearts, wives and mothers
To wear that Union uniform,
And free their shackled brothers.
From every state they filled the roll,
From Maryland to Maine.
The Gov'nor more than reached his goal,
The mandate now was plain:
To show that these Black fighting men
Were equal to the task:
To never have to prove again;
To never have to ask.
They served for less than equal pay,
Accepting none, 'til righted.
Enlisted, they remained to stay,
Their honor yet unblighted.
Eli George Biddle, Edward Hines
And Sergeant William Carney:
The knowledge of whom redefines
The Northern Grand Old Army.
Andrew had turned to Robert Shaw
To lead this regiment.
For in this bold Brahmin he saw
The strength of firm commitment.
The men trained with exactitude,
To Milit'ry precision.
With courage, strength and fortitude
They faced their disposition.
Fort Wagner in South Caroline
Would prove their maiden test,
To see if courage would align
By bringing forth the best
From Blacks who fought to free the slave,
For Justice and the Right--
These soldiers who when called on gave
New meaning to the Fight.
With neither map nor smooth terrain
They charged the mouth of Hell.
Into the with'ring blast they came
Ignoring shot and shell.
Young Colonel Shaw, while rallying forth
With sword clutched in his hand.
Exhorted, `Onward Fifty Fourth'
His ultimate command.
He died upon the parapet.
He fell amidst his men.
All buried in a common pit,
Returned to earth as kin.
The standard bearer breathed his last;
The flag was going down.
Thrice wounded Carney grabbed it fast:
`It never hit the ground.'
This soldier from New Bedford soil,
Who hailed from Company `C'
Half-dead amid the bloody toil,
Dismissed his own safety.
The men fought valiantly that day,
Though victory was denied.
Amid the wreaths and laurels lay
A source of new found pride.
For courage, neither black nor white;
Resides within us all,
When we surrender to our plight
And answer duty's call.
When the drumbeat and the fife subside
And the celebration's done,
And the memory of the men who died
Both North and South is one.
This regiment will still shine forth
In annals of the free:
The Massachusetts Fifty-Fourth.
They died for Liberty.