National Mall Liberty Fund D.C.

honor roll

patriot spotlight

 

 

 



Honor Roll Profile

Hon. Peter W. Rodino, Jr.

"They exemplified the true meaning of the word American: struggle, hard work, perseverance, and love of freedom. We are heirs to the history these men and women made and their example inspires all Americans. They are not simply heroes of black history, they are the heroes of American history."

March 15, 1988

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"Many blacks who served in the Revolution remain today unknown soldiers, anonymous to the public and even the academic and genealogical communities.
Hundreds were mustered into the army under assumed names and/or without racial designation to serve in integrated units. But one day when the monumental task of reviewing the voluminous military service files and pension records kept at the National Archives is undertaken for the purpose of identifying these men, the names of many more black soldiers will become public so that their descendants and fellow Americans may know of them."

February, 1984

Former congressman Peter W. Rodino, Jr., was a law professor at Seton Hall University until his death on May 7, 2005, at the age of 95 . He brought several leading Americans to the memorial cause and made statements that inspired people of all races and colors. Through his distinguished 40-year career as a legislator, he was proudest of his contributions to the rule of law (that helped set Jack Arabus free) and to civil rights legislation of the 1960's that finally offered the full measure of freedom to the descendants of the black patriots.

Mr. Rodino may not be with us to dedicate the memorial. However, his words, spirit and example will guide and inspire our work. His remarks in 2002 on the home page harken back to a statement he made about the black patriots in Congress in 1984 and again in 1988 while chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

 

honor roll

Every week, the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. Honor Role will grow. Names will be re-discovered from documents, scraps of paper, business cards, ancient computer databases, newspaper articles, and fading memories. Thousands have watched this project from the sidelines for over a decade since the hallowed site was won. Those who are still alive waited for a revival, partly to renew friendships that inspired them -- a perk of doing something that is exceptional.

You meet people who inspire.

No deed is too small for recognition. Here, every good deed is remembered. On this Honor Roll, all people and all acts are of equal significance. This month, we honor former Congressman Peter W. Rodino. In the future, dozens more will be recognized.

This Honor Roll will propel us to the memorial's dedication and continue in perpetuity. 

it takes a village to build a monument...

Eventually, the names of over 1,000 Americans, who helped lay the foundation of the memorial, will be listed here .

Mission Accomplished -- The Application for tax exempt status was filed with the IRS on August 31, 2007.  Meet  the Godparents --

  • Marion T. Lane, Ed.D., of Bucks County, Pennsylvania

  • Harriet Peltzman of Eatontown, New Jersey

  • Maria Williams Cole of Bowie, Maryland

  • Judith L. Cobin of Norwalk, Connecticut

  • Tim & Geri Hart of Sacramento, California

  • Ralph D. Nelson, Jr., Ph.D., of Newark, Delaware

  • Ric Murphy of Alexandria, Virginia

  • JoAnne Bakeman of North Syracuse, New York

  • Ellen & Scott Kleinknecht of Bethesda, Maryland

  • Cynthia S. Parker of Newton, Massachusetts

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