CHALLENGER COMMUNITY NEWS

“African Americans fought for America before there was an America"

Throughout America’s history for more than

200 years, Black soldiers have honorably answered the call to duty, serving with great valor and distinction despite having to confront the individual and institutional racism of their countrymen.

On September 24, the unveiling of the African American Veterans Monument took place at the Buffalo & Erie County Military & Naval Park, making it the first of its kind in the nation to honor and recognizes African Americans that have served in all 12 of this nation’s major conflicts, starting with the Revolutionary War.

At that dedication there were a host of speakers, among them Congressman Brian Higgins who represents the 26th congressional district.

Rep. Higgins words – historically rich and heartfelt-best summed up the amazingly resilient history of the Black soldier. Following are excerpts from that speech, which are most fitting to share with our readers on this Veterans Day.

“African Americans fought for America before there was an America. They fought at Lexington and Concord before the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed. When it was proclaimed our nations secular prayer (was) that all men are created equal. These words didn’t really include them but still they fought. They were endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. The author of these words Thomas Jefferson owned slaves at the time. The promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, was not a promise we kept to them. But still they fought. For African Americans the principles of the American Revolution, the Civil War and WWII - the principles of freedom equality liberty… are still being fought today here in Buffalo, throughout the nation and throughout the world.

Frederick Douglass was a great American of the 19th century, a compelling writer, a powerful orator and a leading abolitionist. He was both a friend of Abraham Lincoln and a foe of Lincoln. He called him out when he was wrong.

Douglass was a frequent visitor at the White House and during the Civil War Lincoln admired him and sought his advice. Douglass advised Lincoln and convinced him that slaves should serve in the Union Army and that the abolition of slavery should be a goal of the war.

On Jan 1, 1863 Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation stated that confederate slaves were now free and could serve in the Union Army. They received inferior pay, little training but their courage carried them bravely and boldly.

By the end of the war in April of 1865, 200,000 African Americans served in the war including Frederick Douglas’s two sons Charles and Lewis.

Women are always an integral part the war effort as well including Harriet Tubman, working as supply assistants and nurses binding up the wounds of soldiers. 40,000 Black soldiers died in the Civil War; 10,000 in combat and 30,000 from disease. Twentysix Black soldiers earned the medal of honor and they helped the Union win the war.

The union victory over the confederate state made America one nation and ended the institution of slavery but discrimination and segregation would persist, but still they fought for this country.

Nearly 100 years later when American soldiers fell to Europe and WWI they were going not as conquers but as liberators, as freedom fighters to make people in far away places free. There is a great and tragic irony and it is this: More than one million Black men and women served in WWII (for) the world’s greatest democracy, America , to set the world free from fascism and oppression . (Yet) they served in a segregated military. Blacks were originally relegated to menial jobs in support of the fighting troops . Pressure built to end segregation of each military. When they were given the chance to fight on the front lines they did so courageously admirably and effectively. They exceeded every expectation of a good and great soldier. The 92nd infantry known as the Buffalo Soldiers was the first African American division sent into battle in 1944 . Two-thousand Black soldiers rushing the beaches of Normandy to defend freedom …the Tuskegee Airmen consisting of Black fighter pilots and bombers destroyed German ships and enemy planes. It was them and the other soldiers that helped win the greatest military victory in human history.

In 2007 I was honored to have co-sponsored and attend an award ceremony in the rotunda in the United States Capitol to give the Tuskegee Airmen the congressional medal of honor, the highest civilian honor bestowed by congress. 90 African Americans received a medal of honor.

It is an incredible history. Its heartbreaking and its heartwarming, its tragic and its magic. Two-hundred and forty-six years, 12 wars , every war in the history of this country, courageous military service in a grateful nation , but not grateful enough to remove fully the segregation and discrimination that still exists today.

John Casey (the talented young artist who designed the African American Veterans Monument) believed his artistry could help us and heal us to see the truth and to see each other more clearly."

U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Monica Lynch with proud mom and dad. Street Legacy Photos

Congressman Higgins Presents 73 Long-Awaited Service Medals & Ribbons Earned by 11Local Veterans

Ceremony Honored WNY Veterans Who Served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, & Afghanistan

Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) honored 11 local veterans during a ceremony at the Buffalo and Erie Country Naval & Military Park, awarding 73 service medals & ribbons earned by Western New York veterans.

Among them was U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Monica Lynch. Upon enlisting in the U.S. Marines Corps, Corporal Lynch deployed to Saudi Arabia and the Emirate of Kuwait where she participated in ground combat during Operations Desert Storm and Shield. She and her fellow service members faced multiple chemical warfare attacks but were ultimately successful. A pioneer for Black women in the U.S. Marine Corps, when Lynch joined just 4% of all active U.S. Military personnel were women. She is likely one of the first Black women from Western New York to serve in combat and receive the Combat Action Ribbon while serving in the United States Marine Corps.

Corporal Lynch was awarded nine medals including the Combat Action Ribbon for active participation in ground combat during Operation Desert Storm during the period January 17 to February 28, 1991; the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and the Rifle Marksman Badge, and Various other medals.

Also honored was Richard Cohen, Donald Cohen, Louis Harrison, Rose Hyman, Wade Lewis, Joseph Murphy, Richard Reisch, Tommie Wagstaff, Renee Wiley, and Edward A. Ziarnowski who served our country during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, as well as Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

HERO: In 2019 United States Army Sgt. First Class William Roland Hayes (left) received a bronze star, three purple hearts and other medals from Congressman Brian Higgins (right). Hayes earned these awards for serving and getting injured in Vietnam, but never received them. Hayes served with the 101st Airborne division also known as the "Screaming Eagles." During his service, he was shot twice and hit once with grenade shrapnel during his service in the war. Congressman Higgins cited him in his speech at this year's unveiling of the African American Veterans Monument in September.