Steve Buyer: “I rise tonight to mark an important historical event for the Armed Forces, and indeed, for our Nation. On July 26, 1948…”

“I rise tonight to mark an important historical event for the Armed Forces, and indeed, for our Nation. On July 26, 1948, just over 50 years ago, President Truman signed Executive Order 9981 ordering the racial integration of the Armed Forces. When we think about that in the context of the way things are done today, unlike this election year of 1948, it was a presidential election year, and President Truman was running for his first full term of office. Undeterred by those who today would have counseled him to wait until after the election to make such a controversial decision at that time for the integration of the Armed Forces, he acted in what I believe to be a responsible manner, and he did the right thing. Some may think that his choice was easy, but I believe that the choice at the time was not easy, and it was a courageous decision. It is not easy to make a decision that may profoundly affect the military readiness over the objections of the military leaders of that day. Yet, Harry Truman did just that. Today we acknowledge the overwhelming correctness of that decision.”