On the recordFebruary 2, 2010
I stand before you today in support of H. Res. 1022 "Honoring the life and sacrifice of Medgar Evers and congratulating the United States Navy for naming a supply ship after Medgar Evers." I would like to begin by thanking my colleague Representative Hank Johnson for introducing this resolution in the House, as it is important that we honor and remember Medgar Evers for his service to the United States both on the battlefield as an Army sergeant in World War II as well as his service to the United States through his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement of the 20th Century. Evers was born in Decatur, Mississippi, to Jessie and James Evers in 1925 and grew up on his father's small farm. After reaching adolescence, Evers had a difficult time in obtaining the high school level education he so desperately wanted. Evers however was determined. Every day he would walk 12 miles, each way to school and frequently had objects thrown at him by White children passing by in school buses.
