Please welcome our honored guest, speaker nancy pelosi, accompanied by kevin mccarthy, sean clyburn, marco rubio, jared kathy castor, michael waltz, frederica wilson, president nancy r lumet and Lawrence M Drake the second. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable nancy pelosi, speaker of the United States house of representatives. [applause] Speaker Pelosi it is my privilege to welcome you to statuary hall as we celebrate a pioneer pioneering patriotic americans. The pride of florida and america, dr. Mary mcleod thune. Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune. Please stand for the presentation of colors and the national anthem. Max holt. O say can you see, by the dawns early light, what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming, whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, oer the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there, o say does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the indication invocation. Let us pray. God, our weary ears, god of our silent tears, you who have brought us thus. Those who have by might led us to the light, keep us forever in right paths, we pray. We praise you, for the audible life of for the laudable life of mary Mcleod Bethune. For this statute Dedication Service in her honor. We celebrate the fact that she was a drum major for justice. Truth, and righteousness. As you have inspired us, by her great legacy, l empower usord to persevere lord empower us to persevere in doing what is right. Fulfilling your promise to us, that in due season we will reap if we faint not. Blessed our feet, stray from the places our god where first we met you. Blessed our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world we forget you. Shadowed beneath your hand, may we forever stand true to you and true to our native lands. We pray in the name of the one who said the truth shall set you free. Amen. The honorable kathy castor, chair of the select committee of Climate Crisis and the representative of the 14th district of florida. [applause] i am proud to be a floridian this i am proud to be a florin this morning because the people of florida sent dr. Mary mcleod ba bethune. To represent our great state. Dr. Bethune epitomizes the values we hold dear. Industrious, thirst for education, desire to build peace among people. She devoted her life to equal rights and service. Service yes to president s but to students, women, her race, veterans, and everyday americans. We lift her up today at a time of competing ideologies to help heal and unify through her example. She lived at a time of division but was determined to stand up to dissenting voices including the ku klux klan to do what many said could not be done. When blocks were denied education, she built a school. They were denied medical care she felt a hospital. When the world was grappling with authoritarianism, she helped establish the shuttle commitment to human rights through the united nations. Her picture is captured in this beautiful sculpture funded through the people of florida. Note that cap, down, and books of an educator, the first of its kind in statuary hall. The smiling, sunny outlook. The gold lettering that shines like the florida sun. The cane gifted to her by for that and roosevelt president roosevelt and the black robe that represents the students she educated, encouraged, and loved. Florida was the place from which she affected change and offered the my rendezvous with democracy speech where she said and in the beloved land of florida i have kept a bond of food democracy and found i have kept a rendezvous with democracy and found it alive for the pursuit of happiness, the increase of justice, and the widespread access once acceptance of the brotherhood of mankind. It is floridas intention that her life and lessons be a symbol of justice and love for america and all humankind. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, ms. Nancy our lumen. Love thy neighbor is a precept that could transform the world if it were universally practiced. Loving thy neighbor mean being interracial, interreligious, and international. Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune. Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune began her lifelong career and a discounted beach, florida as a champion for education with the realization that educational advancement equaled social and Economic Education and advancement and advised worldwide leaders on gender equality. She counseled u. S. President s on equal employment opportunity. She champion in our community bridge building for making world change. Her worldwide views provided her a unique can breathe freely and live for lives harnessing their strength. She continues to inspire all of us. Everyone of us, despite, or including, all of our backgrounds. She guides us with her last will and testament, instructions inscribed on the books behind me on this beautiful masterpiece. I leave you love, courage, peace. And leave you the desire to live her money as they with one another. I leave you the desire to have a thirst for education. And, a desire, need, and responsibility to teach young people. I am honored and humbled to represent the statuary fund. With the help of almost 500 donors over the last four years, and our supporters, and our advocates, Michael Walsh and u. S. Representative kathy castor and your team, amazing advocacy. And our mission to bring fruition to statutory hall, dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune. Our board of directors did so much and represent the founders of america. The board members, show carter, joyce q sack, daniel garrett, sherry lloyd, sherry paramore, lucia county commissioner and so lucia county commissioner billy wheeler. This magnificent statue you see beside me represents mary Mcleod Bethunes determination, resilience, passion, and diplomacy and shows we have the ability to create positive change on our loan. This was the first hispanic woman called sculpting the first africanamerican woman to be honored here in statutory hall. Honored here in statutory hall. Thank you. That time has come. That time is now. That day is today in this pristine, marble masterpiece in her likeness. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, dr. Lawrence m drake the Second Interim president of bassoon cookman bethunecookman university. Good morning. Speaker pelosi, leader mccarthy, senator rubio, chair caster, representatives walsh, demings, and wilson and of course nancy loman, distinguished ladies, on behalf of everyone at Bethune Cookman university our hearts are rejoicing today seeing our founder and namesake take her rightful place among the most distinguished americans here in the center of our democracy. No one could have predicted that this dr. Of slaves could create a university, found a political organization, advise president s, and inspired generations through her hopeful vision, her hard work, generous spirit, she made a lasting and positive mark on our country and the world. In 1904 she started a school with six students, one of which was her son, albert with one dollar and . 50 and then went on to serve our university for over three decades as president. Today our students and thousands of graduates around the world are living examples of are monitor motto, enter to learn, depart to serve. Her life and lessons are as relevant today as ever. She was an innovator in education and learning, teaching through what we all call today experiential learning. She told you about it. She taught you how to do it. She allowed you to demonstrate you could do it. Then she said, take it out to the world and share it. As we approach our one hundred 20th anniversary we will we want to continue to train the minds and develop the students of the future that will walk in her likeness. As i humbly stand here in her stead, my vision for our university is where every learner enters with curiosity and it departs with a growth mindset, is competitively competent, committed to Lifelong Learning and ready to use their gifts, talents, and experiences to selflessly change the world for the better. Just like she did. You see, this remarkable statue by nilda commas captures dr. Bethunes legacy and history. So i aggressively invite you to come visit our cherished campus in Daytona Beach so you can see her legacy in action. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, members of the Bethune CookmanUniversity Concert corral. What ladies and gentlemen the honorable representative from the six district of florida. Oh my god, what a great day for Daytona Beach, florida, for low Bethune Cookman university. Wasnt that credible quest incredible . And for florida, having the first ever and only africanamerican representing our state here in our nations capitol. I want to take a moment. I am so proud of the florida legislature. Of then governor rick scott who signed the legislation who made this happen. Governor desantis, that sent the request to allow us to all be here today. You know, after she moved to florida she saw a need. She saw that the workers, the black workers building the railroads, the railroad that allowed florida to one day be developed were not getting an education. She saw a need and addressed it. She started a school with a dollar and . 50 to train africanamerican young girls. It was not without challenges. The kkk, after the school was up and running, came marching on the small girls school with torches, with ropes, on horseback. She already had a plan. She told her teachers to disperse and she hid her students and stood alone at the gate and stared them down and stood them down. Madam speaker, in my military career i have seen some tough cookies, some tough women. I guarantee this is the toughest one in the hall today. If that was not enough, she became a member of president roosevelts cabinet. She developed a lifelong friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt who came to stay at in Daytona Beach and became a lifelong National Leader. From one generation, a daughter of slaves, to a National Leader of women and civil rights. But i think that her greatest contribution was her last will and testament. If you have not read it, you must. I read it again last night. Briefly she says, i leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you a thirst for education. I love you review faith. Leave you faith. She said our aim must be to leave a world of justice were no mans skin color or religion is held against him. She says faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. Thank you. God bless you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable United States representative from the 10th district of florida. Speaker pelosi, leader mccarthy, cliburn, to the nilda Comas Bethune to the bethune family and our special guests. I was born and raised in florida and i remember as a little girl listening to my mother and my father talk about a black woman, a woman who looked like us. Who started a college, an institution of Higher Learning in florida. As i listened to my parents tell the story, it seemed impossible. What dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune made what seemed impossible possible. As a child, she picked up a book and was told, put that down. You cannot read. But she refused to be defined by those children that day and went on to become one of the most powerful educators in and educate influential women in florida history and in the history of our nation. Dr. Bethune was determined to create opportunities for every child, every child regardless of the color of their skin. She wanted to make sure that every child received one of lifes most precious gifts, and education. Lifes most precious gifts, and education. An education. Was much more. She served her community, her state, her country, from the schoolhouse to the white house. Dr. Bethune did her part to form the more Perfect Union we love to talk about and establish justice. Representative walsh, yes, she said faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible. Through faith, dr. Bethune dared to be brilliant, to be smart, and let her light shine so brightly so anyone who looked up could see it and dare to believe in their own possibility. I am proud to hold and an honorary doctorate from Bethune Cookman university. Ladies and gentlemen, when we look at this life so well lived, it is only befitting that dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune take her rightful place in the peoples house and continue to let her light shine as she represents the great state of florida. God bless you. And, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen the honorable Frederick R Wilson representative from the 24th district of florida. [applause] countless slaves tunneled to freedom because of one woman who led the way. The Civil Rights Movement began because one woman refused to move. We got a seat at the table because one woman. Poor children in florida were educated because one woman would not give up. Harriet tubman, one woman, rosa parks, one woman, it should charlie chisholm, one woman. Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune, one woman. Each launched a movement and forever changed the way we see our world. So, today, we are rewriting the history we want to share with our future generations. We are replacing a remnant of hatred and division with a symbol of hope and inspiration. One woman. Because, today, we place very cloud bethune mary Mcleod Bethune in statuary hall among the giants of history. I cant think of anyone more fitting to occupy this space. Congratulations. Speaker pelosi, representative pastor, nancy loman, nilda comas , and, to the state of florida, you made the right choice. One woman. As an educator, i always found many similarities between dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune and myself. And i have tried my best to embody her spirit, her stamina, and her perseverance. Our shared love of children, our love of education, and our shared responsibility of lifting up the next generation. No matter the roadblocks. She fast fostered young black girls and i fostered young black boys. I love this woman. That is why in 2004 i was so ecstatic and honored to serve as an honorary cochair of the fundraising and unveiling of the statue of mary Mcleod Bethune on the campus of the university. What happened on that historic day was an out of body experience for me. It was phenomenal disbelief and wonderment. It is a story i will tell for as long as i can. You see, the unveiling of the statue was on the program for 12 00 noon. But as things go, the ceremony was running behind. Because it was the complication of the new president. It was the 100th anniversary of the university. And, the unveiling. I stepped outside to look at the statue, to search for my name on the statue engraving next to the plate, another extreme cochair, and when the clock bells chimed at noon, the sky above turned into night. We were overcome by clouds and hurricane strength wind. The wind ward roared through the campus and is swept the cloth from the statue off her body, unveiling her glorious statue. There was nobody out there but two people. I cannot believe it. Next to me was albert bethune, her grandson, who turned and said, ms. Wilson, you know, mama never did like things being late. The staff of the university chased the burgundy cloth down the street and put it back on the statue edit just as they finished, the doors of convocation burst open and the beautiful voices of the University Choir were heard outside singing, glory, glory hallelujah. His truth is marching on. I tell this story because it exemplifies the true force of nature, of dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune. One woman. In her life she was called the first lady of Negro America and the female booker t. Washington. She was born to enslaved parents who walked the fields work the fields starting at five years old. She could see clearly from the early years that education was the way out. She struggled to build upon the education that was never afforded to her, advocating, fundraising, building schools from the ground up for a generation of black children that had never before been valued for their minds. 1. 50 and faith in god. She did it. One woman. As a senior black member of congress from florida, im extremely proud to be here today to break yet another Glass Ceiling in this hall of democracy. To be honest, mary Mcleod Bethune leaves behind a legacy much greater than anyone statue. She made first lady Eleanor Roosevelt know that black lives matter. She made five president s believe that black lives matter. She made america begin to learn that black lives matter. Thank you dr. Bethune, thank you for your vision that has lasted through the ages. Thank you for your generosity, your salon to be philanthropy that has saved millions of black children like me, thank you for your last will and testament, thank you for your spirit that still roams the campus, that still inspires the students and millions of alumni all over the world. Thank you mary Mcleod Bethune but one woman. As a Bethune CookmanUniversity Honorary doctor, i cannot be prouder could not be prouder to be a wildcat today what. Today. What a woman. Members of the Bethune Cookman concert crowd. Concert corral. Ladies and gentlemen the honorable james d clyburn majority whip of the u. S. House of representatives. Madame speaker, mr. Leader, colleagues. Ladies and gentlemen. Here are the words of mary Mcleod Bethunes last will and testament. Sometimes i ask myself if i have any other legacy to leave. Truly, my worldly possessions are few. Yet, my experiences have been rich. From them, i have distilled principles and policies in which i believe firmly. For, they represent the meaning of my lifes work. They are the products of much sweat and sorrow. Perhaps in them, there is something of value. So, as my life draws to a close, here, then, is my legacy. I leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you the challenge of developing confidence in one another. I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you a respect for the use of power. I leave you face. Irh faith. I leave you racial dignity. I leave you a desire to live harmoniously with your fellowmen. I leave you finally a responsibility to our young people. Mary j mcleod attended the Great Schools in suffolk county, South Carolina. Before graduating from barba Scotia College in kingston, north carolina. She returned to sumter and told taught in the Great Schools she had attended. She became a social worker in savannah, georgia. Before becoming a teacher in augusta, georgia. She returned to sumter to teach at the Kendall Institute and married a fellow teacher, burgess bethune. They subsequently moved to florida. That is where she founded what is now Bethune Cookman university who is 77 commencement i was honored to keynote several weeks ago and become a wildcat. Ms. Bethune was active at the National Council of colored women and girls clubs but found them too docile. Her activism led her to the founding of the National Council of negroe women, currently headed by dr. Thelma daly a graduate of buie state university. My late mother was a loyal and enthusiastic fan of this trailblazing leader and insisted i learn everything i could about her. I it was in my mother that i lobbied governor west to support placing a portrait of mary Mcleod Bethune in the South CarolinaState Capitol building. On july 10, 1976, ms. Bethune became the first person of color in South Carolina history to be so honored. Thank you to my colleagues in this body and the state of florida today. She becomes the first black person to have her likeness represent a state in this building. [clause applause. ] we cannot change history. We should not try. Nor should we attempt to revise or distort events that are misguided tributes to the defenders of human bondage or the perpetrators of false theories. Although much work remains to be done, throughout her life, mary Mcleod Bethune truly did her part to advance the cause of forming a more Perfect Union. Today, we are doing our part on her last to honor her last will and testament. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable kevin mccarthy, republican leader of the u. S. House of representatives. [applause] its an honor to be here. And the sculpture, what an amazing job. 12 those involved, i want to say thank you. At the heart, dr. Bethune was a teacher, and educator. She stands in a fitting place. Where we debated much of the challenges of america. Where at the moment, divided our nation. Abraham lincoln sat just at a desk over there. I think it is only 15 she stands right here. She stands with a lot of leaders, but i think she stands ahead of us. She will continue to educate america about history. She stands apart from all others. 67 years ago one of the most dynamic women in American History passed away from a heart attack. Reflecting on her life, one newspaper wrote that dr. Bethune was an outstanding personality who made noteworthy contributions to the nation. My friends, what an understatement. The impact that dr. Bethune made is known to us. She was a proud godfearing woman who lifted herself up, and others. She had a vision to create a Little School with 1. 50. That is the school that today is Bethune Cookman university. As she later said, though i had not a penny left, i considered cash money as the smallest part of my resources. I had faith in a living god. Faith in myself, and a desire to serve. Concurrently she earned the confidence of elected leaders in washington including five president s of the u. S. Her faith, vision, and heart of service helped america becoming more Perfect Union. Dr. Bethune knew that in the great cause of liberty, there could be no excuses. Growth never arises out of playing the blame game. To her, the question was never who to blame. Rather, how to grow. Bethunes statue stands today as a monument to her incredible legacy. Fittingly for this renaissance woman, who was made from the marble, from the same quarry that michelangelo used to make the statue of david. Michelangelo once said every block of stone has a statue inside it, and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. That was dr. Bethunes approach to education. She always said invest in the human soul, who knows, there might be a diamond in the rough data today we should celebrate the promise america has made to educate all young people regardless of race. It is important we follow in dr. Bethunes footsteps. She wants it america education is the Great American adventure, the worlds most colossal democratic experience experiment. Lets create a better world in which every child has access to the Great American adventure and every parent has the freedom to choose the best school for children and every child can learn, grow, succeed to the best of their abilities. Lets pursue our tasks like dr. Bethune, with vision, spirit, and faith. If we can do that, it would be a fitting tribute to the hero we honor today. Thank you. God bless you. [plus] [applause] ladies and gentlemen the honorable marco rubio, u. S. Senator from florida. That me begin by recognizing my colleague, rick scott. When he was the governor of florida he was instrumental in making sure this day became possible. I think he deserves that recognition. [l applause] dr. Bethune was a Great American who refused to accept that her Humble Beginnings are the color of her skin was a limit on her destiny. In the face of ignorance, and cruelty of others she refused to surrender to cynicism or despair. Here in this hall i display statue is meant to show visitors who come across the country and all over the world, each of our respected states respective states best men and women. But we unveil not only a great floridian, a statue of an american whose life exemplified our nations long, historic, and ongoing 246 year journey to live up fully to the promise of our founders. Today we unveil the statue of an american who left for all of us in example of love, of hope, of faith in god, of a desire to live in harmony with others, to live in harmony with our fellow citizens. An example which our nation should follow now more than ever. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable nancy pelosi, speaker of the u. S. House of representatives. [applause] thank you to all of our participants today and all who made this important special location possible. For the capitol, for our country. Thank you kathy castor. Thank you nancy loman. Thank you dr. Drake. Thank you all and thank you senator for your role as governor and honor entering honoring us with your prese nce today, senator scott. And to the state of florida. [applause] its a privilege for all of us to pay tribute to mary Mcleod Bethune, a unyielding force for Racial Justice and a pioneering voice for gender equity, and a devoted advocate for education. I have had the honor of having a bust of her in my office for decades and now i am proud of the congress will be blessed with this magnificent presence in statuary hall. All of us are in honor of dr. Bethunes extraordinary story with being born to parents who were formerly enslaved, she divided devoted her life to Opening Doors of opportunity to more americans buy in her own words engraved on the statue for you all to see i invest in the human soul. There may be a diamond in the rough. Establishing a boarding school that lives on in Bethune Cookman university. Registering women to vote after the ratification of the 19th amendment. Becoming what was at the time the highestranking black official under president franklin roosevelt. Helping lead influential civil Rights Groups including the naacp. And, she formed her own organization and thats the statue i have in my office. And how poetic. And how wonderful it is that she was able to do so much. Here she is standing next to rosa parks. Isnt this remarkable . This is the first black american statue coming from a state. We as an act of congress voted to have a statue of rosa parks here. Any of us knew her. She told us she wanted to be a statue sitting down. For all that that meant. Doug clyburn worked with Martin Luther king. We have his statue here in the capitol. We did not know Sojourner Truth or Frederick Douglass personally, but we are very happy there in the capitol. Frederick douglass is actually a statue from the district of columbia, not yet a state. But nevertheless, that still makes mary the first. Again, thats a real tribute to the state of florida. What an honor to us all. You have to know about kathy castor. Where limitless, persistent, constant, optimistic, creative in every way. We were all sharing stories when we announced the end of the statue. Congresswoman barbara lee told us her mother worked with mary Mcleod Bethune. Joyce beatty, your grandmother or your mom . So, her family, for a number of generations, and i am sure many other members will have their stories about their association. Since the announcement of the statue them members they members have been identifying them. She had many friends, whether she realized it or not. How poetic that dr. Bethune replaces a littleknown confederate general, trading a traitor for a civil rights hero in the capitol of the United States. Thank you, florida. [applause] let us recognize again the sculptor who breaks another barrier, as was mentioned, as the first hispanic artist to have a sculpture in the statuary hall collection at the capitol. Nilda comas. [applause] welcoming the statue is such a privilege for all of us. I visited the place where the statue was carved. The leader mentioned it was the material of michelangelo and many great renaissance artists. The people there like us are celebrating that they have a statue in capitol of the u. S. Welcoming the statue is, i think, news of history. Cleo. She records everything she sees going on in the capitol. I think today she is smiling extra broadly because of what she is reporting recording here today. You can see mary Mcleod Bethune standing next to a seated rosa parks. That is quite remarkable. They look quite comfortable there. After nilda comas after bethune takes her rightful place here, honoring a legendary american, we ensure all young people, but especially, young black women, girls, and young boys as well, young people, come to this capitol, and it see a reflection of our nations beautiful diversity, beautiful success, and greater possibilities for them in their future. As it would be with what dr. Macleod has in her legacy, her will, as our colleagues have mentioned, to give people safe and hope and confidence in what they can do. Thank you for everyone who made this possible. Thank you for everyone for being here today. Its a glorious day in the capitol of the u. S. Thank you all for making it so. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the benediction. When you pray with me . Would you pray with me . Holy god, the author and perfecter of our lives, source of our faith. We pray for your benediction over this momentous occasion as this monument to a true American Hero stands tall before us. So may this lasting tribute to dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune rise impressively at inspirational he above all the crowds who will gather around here in this hallowed hall in the years to come. To all who shouted outlook to the symbol of her exemplary life, reveal to them the unwavering strength and courage dr. Bethune embodied, inspiring in all who look upon her, the conviction and integrity not justhewn integrity not just hewn in the statue but engraved in her soul. And in our lives the same desire to dedicate our heads, our hands, and our hearts to a quality and pursuit of both education and happiness. We each reap the benefits of her noble efforts as we stand in awe of her keen awareness of the needs around her, may we somehow prove worth the of the legacy of faith, hope, love, and the thirst for education she now sits before us to uphold. In the name of our redeemer, we pray