Elijah Cummings: “I join the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) in thanking the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss) for…”

“I join the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella) in thanking the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss) for sponsoring H.R. 3454. Henry McNeal Turner was a well-known missionary pastor, evangelist, church administrator, Army chaplain, author of religious publications, and postmaster. He taught himself to read, and at the age of 19 he became a preacher in the African-American Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1863, he organized the first regiment of African-American troops. He became the first African-American Army chaplain, and then became a chaplain of the regular troops. He was elected to the Georgia State legislature in 1868. I guess it is easy for us to say that today, but when we think about the times back in 1868, for an African-American man to be elected to the State legislature is phenomenal. In 1869 he was appointed Postmaster of Macon, Georgia. He actively championed equal rights, and led missions to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and South Africa. So we pause here to honor him by naming this post office after him. I must say that it is so important that we do this, for he is a hero to so many people, and particularly to African-American people.”