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 no