Peter Visclosky: “today, led by a remarkable woman, Congresswoman Julia Carson, we honor the actions of another remarkable woman, Mrs.…”

“today, led by a remarkable woman, Congresswoman Julia Carson, we honor the actions of another remarkable woman, Mrs. Rosa Parks. Congresswoman Carson has worked tirelessly to insure that Mrs. Parks receives a Congressional Gold Medal, a distinction reserved for only the most heroic individuals who have affected change on a grand scale. It is particularly fitting that Mrs. Parks receive this award, since through her simple action, refusing to give up her seat on a crowded Montgomery bus, she affected the modern history of the most powerful nation in the world. However, Mrs. Parks is not only the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, she is one of its current guardians, and I believe that in honoring her most well-known deeds, we must honor the other contributions she has made as well. Another leader who refused to see people stripped of the dignity and self-respect they deserve, Mahatma Gandhi, once said that. "Whatever you do, however small and insignificant it may seem, it is most important that you do it." Mrs. Parks' actions, and the enormous ramifications her small action has had, are a perfect example of the importance each individual must put in their own endeavors. Mrs. Parks' actions since that fateful day in Montgomery have helped many people reach their full potential.”