Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill to designate the new Department of Veterans Affairs community- based outpatient clinic in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, as the Henry Parham VA Clinic. Private First Class Henry Parham, who at the time of his passing on July 4, 2021, was believed to be the last surviving Black combat veteran of D-day. He passed away at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center at the age of 99, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of courage, resilience, and service. Drafted into the Army at just 21 years old, Mr. Parham joined the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only Black combat unit to land on D-day. Unable to swim on that day, Mr. Parham waded through neck-high water onto Omaha Beach, carrying his equipment under the chaos of enemy fire, praying for survival. For 2 months, he and his battalion stood watch, aiding the flow of supplies and reinforcements to sustain Allied forces in turning the tide of the war. When asked about his service, Mr. Parham said simply: I did my duty. I did what I was supposed to do as an American. That sense of responsibility defined him. After the war, Mr. Parham, like so many Black veterans, returned to a country that denied him the very freedoms he had fought to protect. He endured, devoting his life to service, spending decades volunteering at the Pittsburgh VA medical center and his local American Legion alongside his wife of 54 years, Ethel.…”