|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Friends:
We have a unique opportunity to honor the life of one of Maryland's true heroines -- Harriet Tubman. Known as "Moses" by African-American and white abolitionists, she was the most famous "conductor" of the anti-slavery resistance network known as the Underground Railroad.
Harriet Tubman's life story has become an American story - one that is taught in schools across the nation to illustrate courage, determination and the yearning for freedom. She was born in Dorchester County, Maryland, where she spent nearly 30 years as a slave. She escaped slavery in 1849, but returned for more than 10 years to Dorchester and Caroline counties where she led hundreds of African Americans to freedom.
To honor her legacy, I recently joined with Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski, and New York Senators Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton in introducing The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Act, which would create two national parks -- one on Maryland's Eastern Shore and one in New York -- to honor her life. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park would trace her early life as a slave on Maryland's Eastern Shore and her work on the underground railroad. The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park would be located in Auburn, NY, and would focus on Tubman's later years where she was active in the suffrage movement and in providing for the welfare of aged African Americans.
The bill authorizes grants that can be used for construction of the Harriet Tubman State Park Visitors Center in Maryland and for easements or acquisitions of property inside or adjacent to the Historical Park boundaries. Senator Mikulski and I recently secured preliminary approval of $500,000 that can be used to begin design and preliminary engineering of the new Visitors Center. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley has committed $1.6 million in state funding to finance the center's design, which will serve as a national model for sustainable and environmentally sensitive buildings.
Harriet Tubman was a true patriot and the two national historical parks will help tell her story to all Americans. We have a duty to honor and remember those who came before us and made it possible for us to live our ideals of liberty, freedom and equality.
Best wishes.
|
|
|
