PRINTER'S NO. 2487
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
575
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHREIBER, KIM, MOUL, LEWIS, KIRKLAND,
SCHLOSSBERG, ROZZI, READSHAW, DiGIROLAMO, PICKETT, COHEN,
BIZZARRO, DONATUCCI, HENNESSEY, BULLOCK, BISHOP, ENGLISH,
VEREB, BARBIN, ROTHMAN, DEAN, BARRAR, D. COSTA, DRISCOLL,
BAKER, MILLARD, SONNEY, DUSH, HEFFLEY, KINSEY, MURT, WARD,
DAVIS, CALTAGIRONE, WHEELAND, GODSHALL, SCHWEYER, RAPP,
D. PARKER, WATSON, THOMAS, B. MILLER, KAUFFMAN, KAVULICH,
GROVE, MAHONEY, PASHINSKI, MAJOR, NEILSON, GINGRICH, GOODMAN,
MARSICO, PAYNE AND DeLUCA, NOVEMBER 5, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
NOVEMBER 5, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of November 9 through 15, 2015, as "United
States Colored Troops Grand Review Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, November 2015 marks the closing year of the Civil
War Sesquicentennial, during which Pennsylvania has been in the
national leadership in presenting compelling and informative
programs for its residents, visitors and guests; and
WHEREAS, November 14, 2015, also marks the 150th anniversary
of the Pennsylvania Grand Review of the United States Colored
Troops, honoring more than 180,000 free men who were African-
American patriots of the Civil War; and
WHEREAS, African-American soldiers made up about 10% of the
Union Army which bolstered the army at a crucial time; and
WHEREAS, Despite their heroic service, the United States
Colored Troops were uninvited from the National Grand Review in
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1865; and
WHEREAS, A congress of citizens from throughout this
Commonwealth, Mid-Atlantic region and nation gathered here in
Harrisburg on November 14, 1865, to welcome marching regiments
from 25 states who passed in review, marched through our streets
and into our common history; and
WHEREAS, The military parade filed through Harrisburg to the
South Front Street residence of United States Senator and former
Secretary of War Simon Cameron who thanked the veterans for
their service; and
WHEREAS, This year, a groundswell of cultural and heritage
partners have collaborated to gather reenactors, living history
interpreters, student organizations, cultural and heritage
organizations, scholars, humanists, educators, stewards of
hallowed grounds and United States Colored Troops descendants
from those same 25 states; and
WHEREAS, The descendants of those United States Colored
Troops have also journeyed here to pause in this time and place
and remember in order to march forward in unity; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
November 9 through 15, 2015, as United States Colored Troops
Grand Review Week in honor and commemoration of these African-
American patriots of the Civil War and with regard for the
legacy of citizenship they leave us to preserve and carry
forward; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives welcome the
delegates of the 2015 annual meeting of the United States
Colored Troops Living History Association who come to stand in
this hallowed place at this historic moment.
20150HR0575PN2487 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29