Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1920-10-02

them Of tho gratitude of tho greatest
Republic of oil times.
There were 10000 Negro troops,
fully equipped and we'll drilled up
On the declaration of War.
| Ten thousand of these troops were
in the Regular Army and the other
! 10000 were attached othc National
! Guard Of :hc several States.
! Tho total number Of casualties In
the Ninety-second Division were /,
543; killed in action, EOS.
There were no conscientious OBJ.
! jectors,' no traitors, no conspirators
against the nation. Mono were convict
cd under the espionage laws. They
were 100 per cent American without
the hypcn. They contributed TO every
war activity.
1t is estimated that over 5000 col
orcG people fought in the Revolution
AIRY War 5000 in the War OF 1912; ITS
975 in the Civil War, and 1867 in
the Spanish-Amcrican War, and no
where do we find any statement that
they did not acquit themselves we'll.
These men, who offered their lives to
81
serving of a better fate than that
they should continue to be "unwept,
unhonored, and unsung." Tho graft
tude Of a nation is duo to the men Of
color who have so nobly given their
services and their lives to their coun
try. No form of recogniztion has been
accorded these men as whole in
keeping with the service they have
rendered.
They have not died in vain
whose memories are kept alive
'tered by Congress. Such an
honor would he an inspiration to
: IL people unused to praise for a praise
wortay aer"ice.
: Twelve hundred Negroes passed
through the officers training camps
and received commissions, for the
first time IN the history Of the nat
lon. They were then admitted into
every branch of the military service
excepting the Marine Corps and Await
ion sections. Their bravery and fight
ing qualities have been recognized
and atteSted by all of The allied DOW
ers and by liberal bcstowal Of war
decoration in the way of medals for
distinguished services.
1t is quite proper that after these
Tong years Of seeming neglect, a mon
ument should be erected to the mem
DRY of tho dead heroes of the Colorod
race who sacrificed their lives upon
the Altar Of their country.
The National Memorial Associat-
ion, Inc, contemplate the erection by
tho American Congress OF q memorial
building in Washington, ID c., tho
Capital Of tho Nation, - memorial
Worthwhile in commentator of
Of the Negro Soldiers and Sailors who
have fought II all the wars OF Ameri
ca.
Each city has its own problems Of
course, and 1t Is but natural that
Washington, tho city of magnificent
architecture, should not be satisfied
with any ordinary MEMORIAL of the
war.
A beautiful building should be erect
cd, every night Of which could ba
utilized 10 depict some feature of
historical events to which the Negro
has participated. Space should be re
Serovd for tablets from the several
States to commemorate men and wo.
men of the race whose deeds entitla
them to honorable mention.
Such building dedicated to the
dead and living heroes of tho Negro
Race, Congress Is called upon to
erect.
The bill, asking Congress for tho
site and an appropriation OF $500.
600 to erect q memorial building In
honor Of the Colored Soldiers and
Sailors who fought in all the wa-S
OF the Nation, and in the. World War
was referred to the Library Commit
Congress and the Committee granted
the National Memorial Association u
hearing on October IA, 1919.
From 1862 to 1919, Negroes havo
responded to the call Of their coun.
try in the hours Of peril; and where
over he has been placed by those in
authority over him, he has given tho
strongest proof Of devotion to his
Country and loyalty to it's flag.
Your committee has only to refer
to the heroic conduct of Crispus At
tucks in charging the British in
State street, Boston, Mass, March s,
ITO which act precipitated the great
struggle out Of which was born tho
independence Of the Thirteen Colo.
MES and since then developed into
the mightiest republic OIL the West.
: ern Hemisphere; Of John Davis and
John Johnson who signalized them
selves with Perry on the Lakes, and
whose splendid courage in that en-.
= gagement in which both were horrib.
ly mutilated, evoked from Governor
Tompkins who reported the Incident,
when America has such tars, she
has little to fear Of the tyrants Of tho
seas;" Of Peter, Salem onBunkerHin:
OF the Black Regiment raised by Col.
christopher Green, the hero OF Red
0f who,