400 years of African-American History honored on Al Udeid Air Base
HR 1242 Resilience Project, President Don Victor Mooney commemorates 400 years of first enslaved Africans arriving in English colonies with American military.
AL UDEID AIR BASE, QATAR, August 29, 2019 /EINPresswire.com/ -- With the historic bi-partisan legislation named HR 1242, which was passed in the United States Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump, Don Victor Mooney, President of HR 1242 Resilience Project was welcomed on Al Udeid Air Base by representatives for Jason R. Armagost, Brigadier General, USAF Commander, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.During the small ceremony, Mooney read a proclamation from the New York City Council to mark HR 1242 Resilience Project in commemoration of the 400th Anniversary. The theme in New York for the commemoration was 400 years: Resilience, Faith, Healing and Partnership.
In a letter addressed to Brigadier General, Don Victor Mooney said, "On behalf of the American people, it brings me great humility and honor to present to the USAF a small memento from one of the national commemorations in the United States marking the 400th year anniversary of the first enslaved Africans arriving in the English colonies during 1619, which took place on August 17, 2019 at Brooklyn Bridge Park2."
"HR 1242 calls for patriotic commemorations and activities to recognize the resilience and contributions of African-Americans to the United States. As Americans, the freedom we enjoy, is only because of the sacrifices your team makes. Please accept these small tokens of our appreciation to the greatest military in the world, added Mooney."
Mooney was escorted on Al Udeid Air Base by Qatar Emiri Air Force, Mr. Younnis then to Staff Sergeant Simmons, USAF. While awaiting for representatives to received him, Staff Sergeant Simmons was overwhelmed with joy that we took the time to honor the 400 years with them in Qatar. He later shared his family genealogy, which comes from the Gullah Geechee people in South Carolina. Mooney also reflected on his emotional arrival1 in Charleston, South Carolina after crossing the Atlantic Ocean by rowboat from Africa, and heading to New York's Brooklyn Bridge.
The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast. Many came from the rice-growing region of West Africa. The nature of their enslavement on isolated island and coastal plantations created a unique culture with deep African retention's that are clearly visible in the Gullah Geechee people’s distinctive arts, crafts, foodways, music, and language. Today, Penn Center3 continues to share the legacy and resilience of the Gullah Geechee people.
Earlier in the week, Don Victor Mooney was received at Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affair/ Protocol Department where he hand delivered a letter for His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Amir of State of Qatar. Mooney's four-day trip was financed by public donations. He's expected to arrive back at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on Friday via Qatar Airways.
Mooney is the first African-American to row across the Atlantic Ocean, on his fourth try. A journey that took twenty-one months.
On the net: www.hr1242resilience.com/ www.goreechallenge.com
Lisa Samuels
GC Media for H.R. 1242 Resilience Project
+1 347-674-3238
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1 https://www.newsghana.com.gh/us-rower-rests-at-city-of-charleston/
2 https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2019/08/19/photos-brooklyn-vigil-honors-400th-anniversary-of-first-african-slaves-in-colonial-u-s/
3 http://www.penncenter.com/