Transcripts For CSPAN3 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center Opening Ceremony 20170402

, to all ofe creator the representatives of the creator and our ancestors, especially have Harriet Tubman. This a participatory activity. So, we would like for you to join, i would like for you to join with me in this. When you hear me say the word, ensah, i would like for you to respond yah. Ensah. Audience yah. Beautiful. [speaking in ghanian] yah. Yah. Yah. Quite the Divine Energy of the creator, we call on you yah. To our beautiful queen mother, Harriet Tubman, we call on you. Yah. Daughter of a we call you we call on you. Yah. Masterful conductor, we call you. Yah. Divine warrior woman of righteousness, of justice, of freedom, of liberation, of truth , we call you yah. The one who said i could have freed 1000 more if only they knew there were enslaved, we call on you yah. The one who never lost a passenger and never ran her train off the tracks. Yah. To Harriet Tubman, the hero, we call you today. Yah. Queen oft tubman, the the north star and mother of the midnight sky, we call you today to come yah. We call you today on the location of the grand opening of the Harriet Tubman underground oflroad Visitor Center building in your honor. We are here in this land called maryland were you once walked, where you once breathe the air that we breathe, where your blood has been. Where your tears once dropped. Celebrate as we know that we call your name and call your name, you continue to live. As we step foot on this sacred land, may we be inspired by you. May we be inspired by your work. Lead to, continue to lead, to lead that train. Yah, we want to thank all who is present and had a their hand in making today possible. Yah. Harriet tubman, we honor you today. We honor you tomorrow. We honor you always. We continue to always call your name. [speaking ghanian] [applause] oh freedom oh freedom over me slave i be a slave ill be burned in my grave free lord to be no more weeping over me slave a id be burned in my grave lord to be free to all the people who came here to see me. [applause] i born right here in Dorchester County in 1820. 1824. 2 or they did not use to keep the records for colored people. I grew up like a neglected weed, having no Liberty Experience of it. For i was born a slave in this country. To know whatflesh, they do to the slaves. Child,e time i was a wee i heard the screaming because of my people being whooped. I have felt of the lash time and again. I have seen families torn apart, sold to the highest bidder. Every time i see the white man, i was afraid of being carried away. When i was standing about this sold i seen my two sisters on the chain gang, never to be seen no more. Be hard times. Walked early in the morning, they cant see. Out in the fields all of the day, cant see. See. See to cant 437 years, i have toiled here for 37 years, ive toiled here. Thene hauled timber in woods with the loggers. They get to move about a bit and they see things and hear things. When the loggers speak, i open up my ears. You learn more when you open up your ears and not your mouth. I hear loggers about the underground railroad. They said a safe house here. A safe house here. And the people help you on the road to freedom. Up, i heard that, i picked i always had freedom on my mind. The lord in my heart and i prays all the time. I prays. Master, make him christian. Master bring people to look at me and they say what they would give, what they would take. And i was sold on the chain gang with 2 of my brothers. Take them out the way so they will not do any more mischief. Olor three days past, master dead, we for sure bound for the chain gang can now. I runs off with my brother. They feared what master would do. On the northe store when i ran again, on my own. I kept moving. I figured this out in my mind. There be one of two things i had a right to liberty or death. Id cannot have the one, have the other. But no man should take me alive. Night. Day, i walked and walked. That blessed day come. I was in philadelphia. Free. See do iat my hands to be the same person now that i am free. Such a glory over everything. Sun comes like gold over veterans and over the field trees and over the field. I am free. There was nobody to welcome me to the land of freedom. All of my people in the slave quarters. Ie solemn resolution i come, free and they would be free. The north, you get money for working. And i gets enough money and i come down here and with the help of the lord, i carried them to freedom. The lord kept sending me back to deliver his people from the land of bondage. The rivers to cross. He never let the water, above my chin. Lined snow, he never led to me get to for tonight. Wait, bounty for dead or alive. Dogs hoping to smell you. The lord would hide me by day and lead me in the night. And when we were with rate he sent the underground railroad, black people and white people were helping. , he take care of me. And i hold steady on to him. Slavery be near to hell. Slavery picked the north against the south in the great civil war. They said the civil war is a white mans war, colored man not fit for the service. At the firstscared sound of enemies fire. Did he run scared at the battle of pittsburgh . Did he run scared and new Market Heights . Tupelo . Did he run scared on the river with me . Did he run scared at fort wagner . Hmm. Harbor. Er charleston been bombarded for days. He believed that the confederate defense on the island had been beaten down enough on a full frontal attack. But, he was wrong. Hmm. I was there as a nurse and a cook. I served the kernel his last meal colonel his last on the 18th day of july in 1863. Colonel led the colored infantry. Didnt we see the lightning . That was the guns. Didnt we see thunder . That would have been guns. Didnt we have rainfall in . That is what drops the blood. Colonel and all of them colored fightingof the 54th dying for freedom. Father, we stretch the hands to thee and thank you for our colored troops. Answer when their names be called. Some, but the colored troops freed us all. We were not set free. We freed ourselves. The United States colored troop turned our face from the north star to the morningstar. Victorious. I thank you colored troops. Cuz of you i wake of free every morning. Free to come on down here on the Eastern Shore were many years ago when they enslaved to me and all of my people. Free to walk about now as i please on my own time. That is what i think i will do now guess what i think i will do now . It has been a long time since i have been here on the Eastern Shore. I once to see what they have done to my homeland. If i come back to you please. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, b company of the massachusetts volunteer infantry presenting the colors. 1, 2. Left. March. Go one way or the other. Front. Halt. Oh, 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. Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave, for the land of the free, and the home of the brave. [applause] lift every voice and a sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty; let our rejoicing rise high as the listning skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; facing the rising sun of our new day begun, let us march on till victory is won. God of our weary years, god of our silent tears, thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; thou who hast by thy might, led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our god, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee; shadowed beneath thy hand, may we forever stand, true to our god, true to our native land. [applause] right face. Forward march. Left march. Job. Od thank you, guys. [applause] [applause] ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, act at this time, we would like to invite our speakers and guest treasurer franco to the mr. Stage. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the honorable larry an,den, governor hog governor of the state of maryland. Holden an governor thank you. Thank you very much. That afternoon. First of all, how about that choir and the reenactment, millicent sparks who played Harriet Tubman . She brought tears to my eyes. Big round of a applause and the color guard. Back on theto be Eastern Shore. A great day to be here with all of you on this exciting day for Dorchester County and the state of maryland. In february, we were proud to celebrate black History Month in maryland. This month, in march, we are recognizing womens History Month, women like that. Come on. Because today,g we are celebrating Harriet Tubman day. [applause] hogan the timing could not be better to celebrate the opening of our Harriet Tubman underground railroad Visitor Center. With [applause] , long aftercility all of us are gone, new generations will come here to learn about and to honor one of our most truly incredible maryland he rose. Heroes. Harriet tubmans contributions to our state and nation transcend race or gender or nationality and religion, and today we live in a country where for all of us, freedom is a birthright. It is the foundation of everything that we stand for and believe in as marylanders and americans. That was not true when a Harriet Tubman was born here in Dorchester County nearly 200 years ago. However, back then, even back then when freedom was denied, unbelievable hat acts of heroism, colonel rich and sacrifice courage and sacrifice emerge. Harriet tubman earned the names of moses in general torment. After making our own escape, she became the most famous conductor of the underground railroad which she utilized to free hundreds and hundreds of slaves and bring them to their freedom. She also worked as a scout and a for and a spy and a nurse the union during the civil war. After the war was over, she continued to dedicate the entire rest of her life in a Selfless Service to others and the cause of freedom. As a state and as a nation, we have come a long way since the days Harriet Tubman walked these very lands. Here in maryland, we will never forget we owe much of their progress to trailblazers like Harriet Tubman who paved the way for so many others. We are proud to have a statue honoring and memorializing Harriet Tubman in the Governors Mansion and there are plans to erect a new statue in her honor on the grounds of our historic statehouse in annapolis. [applause] hogan i am pleased to announce our administration is pledging the funding to make sure this important project is completed. [applause] hogan and today as we celebrate this new part of Visitor Center, i want to fake our federal, state and local partners who helped make this project a reality including the National Park service, Maryland Park service, office of tourism, Dorchester County as well as our state agencies including the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, department of commerce and department of general services. [applause] i also want to thank senator cardin for his leadership to make this a reality. [applause] Governor Hogan and finally, and most importantly, i want to take a moment to thank and to recognize all of Harriet Tubmans descendents who have joined us this afternoon for being a part of the park adication and this much deserved tribute today. Thank you all. [applause] Governor Hogan thank you all for helping us to honor the great legacy of this incredible maryland or and a true american icon, Harriet Tubman. Thank you and god bless you all. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the honorable benjamin cardin, u. S. Senator for maryland. This is truly a great today for our country and a great day for this region. 104th anniversary of the death of Harriet Tubman, she or 91, we are92 not exactly sure. But around that age. And we celebrate her life today. , thank you for your leadership. We opened today in the Harriet Tubman underground railroad Visitor Center through cooperation of between the National Park service and the Maryland Park service through the generosity of the state of maryland and we thank you for your leadership in making this a reality for the people of maryland and our country. [no audio] [applause] [applause] we know thein story of Harriet Tubman that has been told today in such an effective way. Her life was motivated by seeking freedom and she didnt with such current it with such courage to save others. There is no greater called the data. She did it that as conductor of the underground railroad. She did that on behalf of the union forces. She did it that for so many entirent causes her life. She fought for womens suffrage when it was a challenge to stand up for womens rights. Fought for the elderly when there is very little advocacy to help older people in the later years of their life. She devoted her life to helping others enjoy freedom at an incredibly effective way. [applause] she lived the mission that dr. Martin luther king jr. Said in each of us is here for mission to make a difference, Harriet Tubman made an incredible impact on our. Ntire values and community yes, she is known as the moses of her people. As aember a few years back pass over i had in our house were we were recalling the story of how moses led the jewish people out of slavery from egypt , one of my young relatives said , you mean moses was like Harriet Tubman . [laughter] [applause] senator cardin she is an inspiration and this Visitor Center will be so important for telling that story. Of peopleing a lot here. It will help the economy. I know the local officials will appreciate the fact we are going to be really helping the economy , Dorchester County, thank you for your help. Mayor jackson stanley, thank you for all you have done for cambridge. [applause] senator cardin Governor Hogan is right, we really do thank Harriet Tubman family, the ross family. You have been persistent in making this a reality. [applause] i just want to spend a moment and thank our federal delegation, my partners in washington. It started with paul sorbets who led the campaign for the designation of the Harriet Tubman underground railroad National Historic park. We started with that of years ago when i was elected to the senate, i took on the charge and file to the legislation with my colleagues from the more it. Senator mikulski was incredible help of getting it done. Regards today. Chris van hollen has been helpful. I want people to know we had issues with landowners who wanted to get this done and we played a Critical Role and make sure this reach the finish line. It was a team effort on behalf of our entire congressional district. We are very proud of the fact that Harriet Tubman, the first be son American Woman to honored with a designation of a National Historic park. We got it done thanks to all of your help. [applause] you,or cardin to all of congratulations, this is a great today for the state of maryland. [applause] senator cardin ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the superintendent for Maryland Park , mrs. Satina. Good afternoon. On behalf of the park service and my colleagues, it is my honor to join in welcoming you to this grand opening of the Harriet Tubman underground railroad Visitor Center. To my state park rangers and staff, to all of our Partner Agencies that helped prepare for this day, i salute you on a job well done. [applause] you represent the pinnacle of 17 acres, this part may be one of the smallest in our system but just my Harriet Tubman, it will largest in the hearts and minds of many around the world. This project has been part of my life for the past eight years. Collective vision that brought us here today has been shaped over decades by the , byly of tubman herself instinct historians, gifted architects, engineers and artists. It has been humbling to know you and work for you this many years. As you have heard the vision for this part is to tell the story of Harriet Tubmans courageous life and also to tell the story of who she was as a human being. To share her face, love faith, love of family, joy, things we can all relate to. And a sometimes, it is the smallest things that help us connect like knowing that Harriet Tubman favorite cake was strawberry. And she drank her tea with the butter. Yes. Can you guess what we are serving today . I will say the butter is optional but some of us tried it and it actually tastes great. The value of what we have accomplished together has is greatest meaning for me personally when i reflect on the importance of this place and landscape and of story to Young Coleman andtyona arianna brown. Through bigatched brothers and big sisters in 2008 and it is one of the best things that has ever happened to tell me. Arianna toward the byway last year, we had so much fun. These 2 15yearold girls just like most teenagers are not easily impressed. They connected with tubman and her story. We talked about what it means to be a freedom fighter. Oppression against and injustice. And to make serving others a core purpose of your life. It was through watching them that it became very real to me, the opportunity that this park represents for all of us. Thank you again for being here and your blessings and encouragement and involvement and belief in and this park and the legacy of Harriet Tubman. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the honorable richard c. Traverse. Travers. [applause] wow, what a day. I dont know how you could not have been touched by that choir. [applause] earlier today. That brought songs back memories and i know as strong of a faith in god that Harriet Tubman had she is shining down on us today with them singing that and speaking the praises to god. I am on to to to be here today on this momentous occasion to celebrate the grand opening of the Harriet Tubman underground railroad Visitor Center on behalf of the Dorchester County council, i want to thank the partners who have worked many hours to make this dream come true. We also needed to remember a couple of them who passed away during this process and not able to be here today with us. One of them is ms. Evelyn townsend. [applause] she played a significant role in the development of the downtown area museum. And the next one, mr. John creighton. [applause] richard mr. Creighton left us way too soon. He played an instrumental part state and local initiatives of documenting the life of Harriet Tubman. Words cannot describe how important this Visitor Center is not just a Dorchester County, not just to the Eastern Shore but the state of maryland also and of the nation. [applause] richard this will allow us an opportunity to showcase how proud we are to be the birthplace and the home to one heroesicas h greatest heroes,est he rose, Harriet Tubman. We all know we are blessed to live on the Eastern Shore of maryland and is landscape that is so symbolic of her land life and legacy. To think she toiled in the lands, she trapped muskrats, she locked with her father, she worked in these fields right here. The very land that you can immerse yourself into today. Tubman had a very strong faith in god. She lived through many trials and tribulations in life and harriet was able to show many people the way to freedom and inspire many more to go on their own. She had no special training other than the godgiven talent that she had to help others. Later, this0 years woman is still inspiring people today. [applause] richard just a look around and see how many people here today for a special invite, the back is flooded with people with no place to sit. She touched these people in one way or another. Wait until tomorrow when the public can walk in here and lets see what is going to happen. , were know the weather all concerned. We wouldve liked to have a spring today. Harriet did not have it easy so we are not going to have it easy either. [applause] richard so, come, walk in her footsteps. They called her the moses of her people. As threey, as short weeks ago, i read an article in a national magazine, in fact, my wife read it. It was a christian magazine, the guidepost. There was an article about 2 young africanamerican women struggling with things going on in their life. Strong women. In this lady said the name of Harriet Tubman kept coming up. So she got in her car on one saturday and shed rose drove to bucktown, maryland. That is what the article said. I am quoting. And she stood at the bucktown store. And she was just amazed and overwhelmed and fortunately enough there was somebody there that was able to let her in the door. I think we all know who that is. She went into the store to hear her tell her story that she was able to stand of there and run her hand over the same counter that Harriet Tubman did. And she got the realization to , i can doe can do it it, too. I can live and overcome my turmoil and my troubles. Today, is not inspiring i do not know what is, ladies and gentlemen. [applause] you to we invite you arethe county while here. Make plans to come about. Spent time getting to know the land that has such a special place in harriets heart. And remember, Harriet Tubman was a living, breathing person and not a myth. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome state senator, the honorable adelaide eckert. [applause] thank you and good afternoon, everyone. To see you. Od thank you so much. Lieutenant governor, senator cardin, thank you for your good and and to our comptroller treasury, they handled the money piece of this project. Councilman travers, how inspiring. On mayor and mrs. Secretary behalf of the dorchester delicate pool deck a delegate who is with us, i think maybe on their way a delegate was with us, i think maybe on their way. I want to say thank you to the park service at the national level, to our department of Natural Resources and all that they do. Thank you, thank you. About the liferd and legacy of Harriet Tubman today, there is one aspect we have not heard about. It is one of the reasons why harriet has been of one of my alltime heroes. Many of you may not know that but when i was asked my name for one of marylands 100 women a while ago, harriet was the person i chose because as a nurse working in psychiatric work right here in Dorchester County, we put harriet on a stamp and the nurses association, the American Nurses association across this country honored harriet that year. I remember working in a small think tank group with John Creighton and Evelyn Townsend and Linda Wheatley and many, many others, we were able to share that story and build that common bond to begin the work that is taking so long to celebrate the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman. That, but toto do capture the vision she had to bring people together, to be able to really understand our history, to share in that history. It is a dark history. But, it is something we all have to deal with a because it impacts each and every one of us. And here in Dorchester County, we want to uphold a new vision. A new vision that wasnt the essence of Harriet Tubman. She believed we needed to build on our strength. That was the essence of Harriet Tubman. Think about that. As we do in underground railroad and able to think about freeing the people, moving people, feeding people, taking care of people, introducing to one another, how do you do that . You do that by building relationships and find it out what each person has to offer regardless of what they look like. And you build the bridge. And you build railroads. And you make progress. We celebrate that today and asked the state and local and federal level and communities have come together to put together this some 22 million facility that will celebrate all of what we want to share both good and bad about our past, about where we are and about how we will change that going forward. Because if we do not change and that going forward, we are bound to fall in to what was in the past. And we believe, i believe, as harriet did, there is an opportunity for all of us with our faith and our lord and by building on our strengths, we will move forward. The bible tells us, if there is no vision, the people will perish. We have a vision here. I stand here today not on behalf of myself although im honored to be able to do that, but i stand here today representing each and every one of you in this room and many people who wanted to be here today who are not able to be here. Facility. E peoples the tax dollars that put this together to make this a reality today came from everybody in this room. This is everybodys facility. We will move forward. We will hold a new vision. We will have a new conversation. We will not let what has happened in the past hold us back. We are on the move in Dorchester County, it was a wonderful history here. It will be a wonderful history to celebrate again and again and again. Develop the 20 bill unveil the 20 bill. It is common. We would like to do it here because this is where it needs to happen. Everybody here, enjoy this facility. Enjoy our county. And remember we have vision, we will move forward, there is work to do, go do it. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome National Parks services northeast Regional Deputy regional director rose finell. [applause] i dont Carry Business cards. It is too much to put on a there. I am rose because my mom and dad are here, we go by rosalyn. Thank you, mom. Distinguished guests, ladies and from the, mom and dad, very beginning of the National Park service in 1916, Public Private partnerships have played a Critical Role in memorable visitors. Like the ones we are celebrate practice for telling amazing stories. Today is a culmination of the hard work and commitment of so many partners including the state of maryland, engaged citizens, supporters in dorchester and caroline counties, the city of cambridge and many others. U. S. T to recognize the fish and Wildlife Service and managers and staff of blackwater wildlife refuge. The refuge is more than 3000 acres surrounding the Visitor Center preserving the important landscape that reflects the life and times of Harriet Tubman. Today is celebrate the opening of the Harriet Tubman underground railroad visitor ofter, this beautiful state the art Visitor Center take its place as one of the premier Visitor Experiences in the National Park Services National underground Railroad Network to freedom. There are so many places [applause] where inspiring people and their source connect with our hearts and mind. Additions tony new the park service as of this past january is the Harriet Tubman historical park in new york. [applause] this is a sister part of the focus is on top of men tubman s later life. Some of the other National Parks are here working hard to make this a more memorable as safe environment and we thank you. Courthouse, National Historical park in virginia has an extra special role today. They were instrumental in making ane ora mccloy had opportunity to celebrate with us today. Ms. Mccoy is the greatgranddaughter of daniel scruggs, who were enslaved and later free because of the american civil war. After the war, mr. Scruff escrow attained this bell next to me and mrs. Mccoy is now the owner of the bell. Thank you. [applause] the fascinating thing about our shared history is it is really about all of us. The intertwined narratives shared to us in parks, state parks, local parks are in inspiration. A moment to share my own story about my connection. O the magic of this landscape i first came here as part of a team of lobbyists from the conservation working on the establishment of the Harriet Tubman park in 2000 per the team came here on a familiarization tour. We arrived pretty late in the day on a school bus and a school bus parked not very far from here at all. Actually, i think close to the spot. We had a guy who shared with us what he knew of the story of Harriet Tubman slice life in dorchester, her labors in the field and the confrontations that led to the life altering low to her skull at the Bucktown Village store. As of the guys spoke, darkness continue till fall until we were in a sea of black. Our guided set of the stage for us to imagine we were enslaved africans living on a farm in Dorchester County and we resolved tonight would be the night to make our escape. We had one question we needed to answer do you stay or do you go . Out into the darkness, the water of Dorchester County, the blackness of the night sky that would guide me to freedom, i thought about the dogs and torches and torture that awaited if i were caught, and i thought about freedom and i thought about emancipation and all of that meant. in the end, i made a decision to stay. [laughter] to stay. Ded for the next several weeks and days, i was haunted by that experience. I made a choice to stay. Those weeks later, i made a promise to myself that i would never again make a decision based on fear. [applause] rose and so i stand before you, and african American Woman with the dreadlocks and a National Park uniform [cheering] rose each time i come to one of those decision points where i have to decide what is going to happen next, i ask myself just the one question what would harriet do . [applause] rose and i do that. What ever it is she would do, i would do that. That is how i got here. I thank you for your time today and i celebrate with you this dedication to an incredible american icon. I agreed. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the honorable boyd rutherford, Lieutenant Governor of the state of maryland. [applause] good afternoon. That,t know how to follow but i will say, it is always great to be on the Eastern Shore and particularly here in Dorchester County. Andjoy it every time i come particularly on this day, Harriet Tubman day as we remember her remarkable work of incredible woman and the journey that she led so many on. Madam mayor, i want to remind received onprint i pine street a couple of weeks ago, it is painting in my office , a print of Harriet Tubman. It sits kind of on an angle to thomas jefferson, who want to use of that office once used that office. In interloper who was using marylands capital during the temporary home of continental congress. On the far side of the wall is another marylander, virgil douglas. I want to make sure he is surrounded by some folks and reminded. Frederick douglass. And reminded of our history. You. Oseland, thank a very moving testament. Because your parents are here. I want to point out my mother is here. [applause] out it isd to point take your parent to work today. [laughter] also, i also want to recognize the family of harriet family from both here in maryland and new york who have joined us today and thank you very much for being here. [applause] rutherford overnor thank you for everything you have done to keep her store relies and we are incredibly pleased to be part of those efforts. Begant tubmans journey with a handful of people hiding and risking their lives with the faint chance of freedom. , abrings us to this state National Celebration for the opening of this park and Visitors Center to commemorate her life am a legacy and struggle. I am incredibly proud to service marylands Lieutenant Governor and it means so much to me to have this opportunity to share this momentous occasion. Every school kid learns of the story of Harriet Tubman and especially here in maryland that they learn about her. Nevertheless, with this park, those kids will now be able to experience that story in ways they have never been able to before. Harriet tubmans story began right here on this land as a slave. When she made her escape and guided others on a perilous journey of what is now the world renowned underground railroad, she relied on a keen sense of the land, nature skills to finally make her way to freedom. Hers is a story for the ages and a story of overcoming tremendous adversity. A story of selflessness and cycle fights and this sacrifice and reaching incredible heights. Her affect her life is reminder that if we have the current rich, the strength and the wheel, were capable of doing courage, the strength and the will, were capable of doing anything. All of thehank Community Partners who helped shape this piece of living history, including the color ads, gwwo inc, haileys sharp designs. And allall marylanders americans will come here and help us celebrate this important monument in the history of our state and our nation. And in of the march towards human freedom, here future generations will have the chance to traverse the Harriet Tubman underground railroad by way and the sights and sounds through marylands wonderful easter short. After this time, i invite everyone to move, i believe we move outside no, we stay here that is right, it is cold outside. It is always wonderful here on the Eastern Shore. [applause] to help userybody officially open the park. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, at this mrs. Id like to introduce mccoy and asked her to come with the bell. Act of the same time, id like to invite everyone to look into bellbag and remove your from your bag. Ladies and gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, please stand, please stand and raise your bell high in the air in celebration. Chiming]lling and [applause] i have to come back in here to tell you what a sight i have seen out there. Is so full i cannot take it all in. There in my homeland what killed me in bondage, now they wants to welcome me. Wants to pay homage to me, Harriet Tubman. The lord has been so good to me. 10th day ofn the 1913, when iyear was taking my last breath on to all the i say ones gathered around my bed, i you. Ay to make a place for may be also. , ye but when i go out here and see what i see on the same day, the 10th day of march, i see that have prepared a place for me. [applause] that is where you are, i may be also. [applause] and i want especially you to come on and see it. Moses guys you there. Get up. I still carry. [laughter] [applause] they know i have not ever lost a passenger. There. , ill carry you there. Rry you go let my people pray so hard they watching American History tv on cspan3. To join the conversation, like us on facebook at cspan history. Sunday night on afterwords, rhode island to senator Sheldon Whitehouse examines how government is expected by money in his book captured the corporate filtration of democracy. He is interviewed by eric lipton. Without one corporate front groups Group Spending 700 million plus in the last election and threatening planning to spend forager Million Dollars in the next election 400 million in it the next election, that is a huge footprint and more going on behind it. The second p of that has been bringing home the longterm a businessut friendly judges in the courts. So that the courts have become increasingly hostile to regular folks and increasingly interested in protecting corporations. Watch afterwords sunday night at 9 00 p. M. On book tv. On American History tv a on april 9 at 10 00 a. M. Eastern marking the 100 anniversary of americas entry into world war i. States world war i Centennial Commission host the program from the National World war i museum in kansas city missouri. President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration of war against germany on april 6, 1917. More than 4 million men and women served and more than 1000 died. UnAmerican History tv, here on cspan3. On lectures in history, university of chicago professor jonathan levy teaches a class on the Great Recession from 20072009. The worst crisis since the great desk since the 1930s. He traces the origins of the looks at how the Housing Market of the 2000 mimics some of the same patterns. He also talks about some of the exotic Financial Instruments developed during this time. The practice of banks using overnight shortterm credit markets to stay