the congressional gold medal being awarded to the four girls who lost their lives to that event it years ago. -- 50 years ago. >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome members of the united states house of representatives and the members of the united states senate and the speaker of the united states house of representatives. [applause]

ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the united states house of representatives, the honorable john boehner. [applause] >> good afternoon and welcome to the united states gavel. the congress is celebrating the heroes of the civil rights movement. a time that proves frederick douglass was right when he said if there is no struggle, there is no progress. it was three weeks in a day after the march on washington,

martin luther king jr. was in birmingham, alabama. he was not there to sermonize, he was there to eulogize, to make sense of the sunday morning murder of young addie mae collins, denise mcnair, carole robertson, and cynthia wesley. the innocent blood of these little girls may well serve as a redemptive force. what may have been discomfort turned out to be prophecy. birmingham had to go through hell, but found its way back and pushed itself forward and pushed the whole country forward as well.

this is one of the true american stories. two representatives from alabama have joined together to see that these daughters will always shine in the hearts of our nation. denise put on skits in the garage to raise money. carole always made sure she had her chores done so she could go to dance class on saturdays. cynthia did well in math and in the band and enjoyed hosting parties in their backyard. they become recipients of our highest civilian honors, the

congressional gold medal. the medal has served as an expression of appreciation for distinguished individuals. it has been awarded to jackie robinson, rosa parks, who will now share this bond. carole's older sister spoke for all of us when she said, after 50 years, it is well due. i am glad you are all here today, including the head of the birmingham civil rights institute, the current pastor of the 16th street baptist church. we are humbled to be joined by members of the families of our honorees. this is a small token of the nation's gratitude for the courage you have shown. let's welcome our honored guests. [applause]

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, stand for the presentation of the presentation of the colors and the retiring of the colors.

♪

["national anthem"] >> please remain standing as the chaplain of the united states senate gives the invocation.

>> let us pray. sovereign god, your glory fills the skies. triumphant over the shades of night. lord, thank you for this

congressional gold medal ceremony that commemorates the brief lives of four exemplary young women, casualties in the bombing of the 16th street baptist church on september 15, 1963. may their deaths on a day that they came to church to worship you remind us of the senseless

and deranged nature of evil, motivating us to remember that all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. we praise you that their tragic deaths helped arouse the conscience of a nation bringing deliverance to captives and freedom to the oppressed. inspire us, o god, to honor the memories of addie, denise, carole, and cynthia, by refusing to become weary in doing what is right, knowing that a productive heart is as certain as the dawning of the springtime upon a

cold, dead land. we pray in the name of him who said, let the children come to me for of such is the kingdom of heaven, amen. >> please be seated. the representative from the seventh district of alabama. [applause] >> the holy scripture says, a little child shall meet them. the death of these little children may lead our whole southland from the low road of man's inhumanity to the high road of peace and brotherhood. september 18, 1963. mr. speaker, my esteemed house and senate colleagues, cabinet officials, alabama and

birmingham elected officials, and all who are assembled, good afternoon. today we gather to honor the lives of four precious little girls -- addie mae collins, denise mcnair, carole robertson, cynthia wesley. the four little girls died in the sacred walls of the 16th street baptist church 50 years ago this week as they were preparing for sunday school. they died at the hands of a system that remained silent about blatant violent acts of hatred. today, 50 years later, we remain silent no more. today, they will finally be recognized as agents of change who lost their lives and it was pivotal in the struggle for equality. the american people will bestow the highest civilian honor that congress can bestow upon these four little girls in recognition that out of this tragedy came a movement that inspired our nation and impacted the world.

the senseless deaths of the four little girls serves as a catalyst for legislative change. 50 years later, we finally honor their life and legacy. justice delayed, but not denied. god is good. [applause] i believe it is befitting that we would honor four little girls from birmingham under the watchful eye of another alabama

daughter, rosa parks. [applause] rosa parks, whose statue was dedicated this year. we are blessed to be joined today by sarah collins rudolph, addie mae's sister, who was the lone survivor of the bombing. will you please stand? [applause] sarah was in the ladies bathroom

with the four little girls that morning and sustained serious injuries. she represents the great resilience of those who suffered from injustice and you showed extreme courage in the face of incredible adversity. this nation honors you as well today. in the audience, we're also joined by a host of family members representing each of the four girls. including denise's parents, the only surviving parents of the girls. [applause] all of these family members embody a level of reconciliation and forgiveness that is unique to the human condition. they do not speak or act with resentment or anger, but rather with elegant dignity. we owe these families a debt of gratitude for what their resilience and strength has taught all of us. will the family members please rise to be recognized? all of the family members. [applause] the events of sunday, september 15, 1963, and the innocent lives that were lost that day transformed our nation.

we not only lost the lives of four little girls, but we must not forget that two young boys were also killed in birmingham within hours of the church bombing. we know the movement that transpired from those tragic events liberated not only a people, but a nation, a nation gripped with hatred and apathy. with the recent supreme court decision, we know progress is always under attack and political gains are elusive. old battles become new again. we still have much work to do. until we reach the day when justice rolls down like water, we must not stop working towards freedom and equality.

i hope this ceremony will help all of us to recommit ourselves to the cause of justice and equality. this is how we can fulfill the tremendous legacy of addie, carole, cynthia, and denise. their legacy truly paved the way for me and so many others to serve here in congress. i know the journey i now take as alabama's first black congresswoman would not be possible had it not been for the journey of addie, carole, denise, and cynthia. [applause] others sowed the harvest we all

now reap. i question where i would be today without the influence of the four little girls. i question where america would be. the senseless deaths of these girls awakened the slumbering consciousness of america and galvanized the civil rights movement. their memory serves as a torch of courage and strength that john lewis carried when he marched unarmed, unafraid towards alabama state troopers in my hometown of selma. [applause] our country owes a debt of gratitude to these heroines. i was humbled and privileged to have the honor of having my first piece of successful legislation to honor these four girls, with the highest civilian honor that congress can bestow. in the midst of what has been called a dysfunctional congress,

to have bipartisan support for such a bill is an honor. [applause] i was so proud that all of my colleagues from alabama's congressional delegation joined me as original cosponsors of the bill, putting aside partisan politics, we join together in our appreciation of alabama's special role in the civil rights movement. my proudest moment was to control the floor of the united states house of representatives with my friend and colleague congressman spencer bachus as member after member spoke about the four little girls and their

special place in history while their families observed from the gallery. thank you, spencer, for your support and friendship. [applause] two weeks later on may 24, 2013, president obama signed the bill in the oval office as we all watched with pride, knowing that his journey, his journey as president was proof positive that the four little girls did not die in vain. a special thanks to senator richard shelby, who introduced the bill in the senate and secured the necessary 67 cosponsors in record time. [applause] i was an intern for senator shelby when he was my congressman. i know that only in america is

it possible to have such a full circle moment. i am proud that we were able to garner such overwhelming bipartisan support for this bill with the tremendous support of the entire alabama congressional delegation. while i know that none of this would be possible had the majority leader not gone on that great pilgrimage to selma this year and made the promise that if we got the necessary two- thirds cosponsors that he would indeed put the bill on the floor. thank you. [applause] i want to thank the leadership of both parties, especially the speaker, for being so gracious

for making this ceremony possible today. we know we can never be able to replace the lives lost or the injuries suffered, we do know that this gold medal will serve as a compelling reminder that the price of freedom is never free. the four little girls deserve to have their proper place in history as true heroines of the civil rights era. i am privileged to be a part of bestowing this honor. may their souls rest in peace and our hearts forever be touched by the sacrifices that

were made so that all of us could reap the many benefits so wonderful in our country. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the representative from the sixth district of alabama, the honorable spencer bachus. >> thank you. we received a memo from speaker boehner that said if we spoke for more than two minutes, we would be tackled like an alabama linebacker. knowing terry, i shortened my remarks. i am going to move along.

the first book of the bible, the closing passages from genesis says, as for you, god meant it for good to bring about that many people should be kept alive as they are today. he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. these perpetrators of really what was the worst day in the history of birmingham, the darkest day, they met evil. they were filled with hate. but god took those ashes, the tragedy and turn it into something still tragic, still heartbreaking, but resulting in a civil rights movement and a movement for good, peace, and love. [applause]

those little girls shed their blood, but not without a resolve. i say to the families they will join rosa parks as true heroes of the civil rights movement. it is fitting that she would look over us today as we talk about them. they have joined her in history. let me say something else that steny hoyer and i have talked about and eric. it was a nonviolent movement. retraced gone these steps. -- ghandi's steps. it was nonviolent only to those advocating equal rights.

there was a lot of violence directed at them. as on this day in birmingham, the families, martin luther king, john lewis chose not to return good with evil. not to return hate with more hatred. the civil rights movement in america know that because of the current of people like john lewis, it will remain a nonviolent movement. what we are seeing in syria, what linda and i saw in belfast when a bomb went off, we are not experiencing that today. because of the commitment to peaceful settling of our grievances. peaceful resistance. standing up and fighting and going to jail, but not resorting to violence. that is a legacy that we ought to thank everyone who produce a paid it in this movement.

thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen majority leader of the united states house of representatives, eric cantor. [applause] >> it is a great honor to be here today. it was a great honor to accompany my colleagues and friend steny hoyer, the democratic whip, at the

invitation of representatives and the alabama delegation to go on that emigrant ship -- pilgrimage to retrace the steps of the euros of the civil rights movement -- of the heroes of the civil rights movement. we commemorate the lives of these four little girls -- addie mae, denise, carole, and cynthia. it is a strong reminder of the horror endured by those who fought so hard in the civil rights movement in america. for the most basic of freedoms, the most basic freedoms this country embodies -- liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. on that day, america lost four innocent children who had

gathered at a place of worship because the enemies of justice were determined to stop one of the greatest movements for freedom this nation has ever witnessed. these enemies of justice were so determined that they even attacked a house of god. they try to break the will of the civil rights movement. the bomb that september morning might have shaken the walls of that church, that they could not shake a will of the people who often gathered seeking the divine right of equality. it was a memory of the children

addie mae, cynthia, carole, and denise that inspired leaders as dr. king and rosa parks and john lewis hum along with the countless others who continue their pursuit of justice through peace. as a march for equality, they demonstrated to the world that they would not forget the four little girls that were taken that day and it would not be intimidated. the congressional gold medal, one of america's highest civilian awards is given to those who had a great impact on american history and culture. addie mae, cynthia, carole, and denise are most deserving of that honor. thank you. [applause] >> the honorable mr. shelby. >> senator reed, senator

mcconnell, speaker boehner, & kantor -- congressman kantor, congresswoman pelosi, i was in alabama 50 years ago 60 miles from birmingham. we heard the news. my wife and i were coming out of the presbyterian church. people were talking on the street that four innocent little girls were blown up in their sunday school in a church in birmingham. we knew then it was a shameful act, a tragic day. we could not believe it happened, but it did. it awakened the consciousness of the whole nation. it has been 50 years. it has been a long time. i want to commend the

congresswoman for her tour site and perseverance in introducing to our leadership this resolution. that is why we are here today. thank you. [applause] i also want to say thank you are asking me to sponsor that resolution in the united states senate and the senate responded unanimously. that is the legacy, the tragic legacy, but we will not forget. that is why we are here today. i'm sorry it took 50 years. i'm sorry for what happened. it was a shameful day, but such a great legacy we share now. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, u.s.

senator from maryland. [applause] >> i know you have a hard time seeing me. you won't have a hard time hearing me. [laughter] distinguished colleagues, the many women here today who are

part of a larger american community, the families of the four girls from alabama, the u.s. senate and congress pays its respects. i was honored to be asked to be one of the lead sponsors for this congressional medal of honor for these four girls.

i was so pleased that unanimously we approved this congressional manner. it is that it was ever needed. but you know what? when we think of these children of birmingham, they deserve a gold medal, as well as all the children of birmingham. what an amazing group of people the children of birmingham. [applause] the children of birmingham made this trip and changed history. september of 1963 changed the

air. i remember it well. economic march on washington a few weeks before. -- historic march on washington a few weeks before. he said he had a dream. we all had that dream. the dream shall never die. i was a young social worker beginning my first year in graduate school. i might not have become president, but i have got the degree. [laughter] they wanted to end poverty. we knew there was nothing to

crow about in a country that had jim crow. [applause] president jack kennedy was responding, change was on the way. we were on the move. it was not only a march on washington, it was a march through history. that morning september 15, the news flashed across the airwaves that for young girls had died in birmingham. we had died being blown up in

their own church bombed. addie mae collins, denise mcnair, carole robertson, cynthia wesley. i have spoken to diane. i asked to be told about that day. the stories they recounted, diana was at college. she was on her way to become the distinguished educator she is their own church bombed. today. another told a story that he was at a baptist church a few blocks away. they heard the bomb had gone off at 16th st. baptist church. everyone was terrified. they thought another was to happen. the pastor said, go home. they went to 16th street. they were all there. america was horrified, horrified. a few days later when there was the funeral, dr. king came to give the eulogy. he looked around his own church

and he could not believe it. cynthia was his classmate and dear friend. police officers were around. what was the new thing? he saw white people in his church. that day, white people were in the same pews. america realized we are all in the same boat. we are all in this together. [applause] a change history. the children of birmingham are not new to change. they have their own march. dr. king called them forth. their parents were scared. those children put themselves on the line in a civil rights march

for the children of birmingham. they marched side-by-side to try to bring about change. no more segregation. no more secondhand books. number secondhand clothes. -- no more secondhand clothes. [applause]

the children of birmingham change history and make history. some are here before us today. the names of these four young woman -- there is another name by the name of condoleezza rice. she was there. named a secretary of state and try to bring peace to the world. a marylander name one of the most influential educators in the world. wow. these are the children of birmingham. they could've lived their lives and raised families and made their own way and contribution. maybe one might have been a cabinet member. maybe one might have found a cure for cancer. maybe one might have grown up to be president. [applause] today we give the well-deserved congressional medal and a special thanks to diana. no child in america should be redlined or to find by their race, gender, religion, or creed. we honor this. i will conclude by saying this i have been inspired by a great song. as i prepared my remarks today, i refer to the second paragraph the days when hope unborn had died, the steady beat of our wary feet, we have come over away, treading the path of the slaughtered, bright stars for 10,000 angels.

god bless all of you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, performing "press on."♪ >> ♪orming "press on"] don't let your burdens get you down for i'm here with you i wouldn't give you anything i know you couldn't do don't

don't give up stay in the fight trust and believe with all your might when you feel all hope is gone that is when you must press on four i wouldn't give you anything that i know you wouldn't handle

when you feel all hope is gone just press on oooohhhh struggling to make it but just have faith, my child i'll give you all the strength you need don't let your burdens get you down for i'm here with you i wouldn't give you anything i know you couldn't do so don't give up stay in the fight trust and believe with all your might when you feel all hope is gone that is when you must press on for i wouldn't give you anything that i know you couldn't handle when you feel all hope is gone just press on just press on oooohhhhh

don't give up stay in the fight trust and believe with all your might when you feel all hope is gone that is when, that is when you must press on for i wouldn't give you anything that i know you couldn't handle when you feel all hope is gone when you feel all hope is gone

when you feel all hope is gone just press on press on ♪applause] ♪ [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the

democratic leader of the u.s. house of representatives, nancy pelosi. [applause] >> what a perfect song -- hope. when hope is gone, just rest on. -- press on. it is sitting between faith and charity. i hope that is a comfort to the families that it has not dulled the memories of your baby girls. september 15, 1963, it was a sunday like any other in birmingham, alabama. families went to church. congregations prayed.

at the 16th st. baptist church, four little baby girls, the same age as my grandchildren, went to sunday school. they were dressed in their sunday best. they were excitedly talking about the first day of school. little did anyone know that morning that these four little girls would lose their lives because of who they were, what they looked like, where they were worshiping. little did anyone know the unspeakable heartbreaking

tragedy that would make them tragic icons of a movement, a symbol of a struggle for equality. addie mae collins, carole robertson, cynthia wesley, denise mcnair. their names remain seared in our hearts and certainly in yours, we know that 50 years later. they left their families, communities, and the country far too early. dr. king declared at the memorial service days after the bombing, "their deaths say we need to work unrelentingly for the american dream."

just a few weeks after that i have a dream speech, -- of their legacy endures. the memory inspires the fight to establish justice and to form a more perfect union and to realize the dream, the dreams of four little girls, the dream of a nation that loves and values all of america's children's. several years ago, i had the privilege of traveling with reverend lewis. not a reverend, but he is like a preacher to us. i apologize. baucus with us as well. steny hoyer has come on many of these trips and many more to come. we visited the 16th st. baptist church in birmingham. it was heartbreaking to be there in this place that looks so normal. such an extraordinary thing had happened to these little girls. highly emotional experience i do not think any of us will ever forget for anyone who visits that sacred ground. it is also a call to action. that experience and other travels to the civil rights monument expressed upon me that every american should visit these sites.

anyone who travels the country should visit the patriotic sites of america. they should go. they are as important to our history as concord and lexington and independence hall in philadelphia and yes, the u.s. capitol. it has shaped our history. it shipped our future. earlier this year i had the privilege to travel to the civil rights memorial in montgomery, alabama. he told me we had to come back, all of us, to visit him at that what is it? he is the president and ceo of the birmingham civil rights institute. we all have to go there on our

torah patriotic places. -- they're on our tour of patriotic places. [applause] marching for equality, stories of struggle and the patriotism and of the sacrifice. among the names of those who were involved in this case, montgomery, four little girls is lives taken in a simple act in a church. four students, four daughters innocent victims. their memories are a blessing to all of us. their loss must remain a sobering reminder of our task today. to ensure that equality is a right never denied, and to defend the rights of all americans regardless of race,

and with the blessings of liberty and justice for all. mention has been made that rosa parks is looking over our shoulders right here. she seems to have always been looking over our shoulders. i remember -- thank you, mr. speaker, for bringing us together when we dedicated the statue. that was the day the court was hearing oral arguments on civil rights of the voting rights act.

we came over here and dedicated the statue and hoped and prayed that the court made a different decision. rosa parks is looking over our shoulders to see what we will do. we won't disappoint rosa parks. [applause] half a century later from the tragedy of losing the little girls, the memory of these girls fires they ignite -- and ignites the fires of progress. we award them the highest honor that congress can bestow -- the congressional gold medal. i do not remember us ever giving medals to anyone so young, evening adding up all of their ages together, so young.

usually we have a ceremony of this kind, it is about celebration and acknowledgment. this one is especially sad. on the positive side, the youth of these children, this metal is an honor to bestow, these children with their youth and sacrifice, they invigorate this metal. it will never be the same. thank you to our colleagues. thank you for making this possible today. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the u.s. senate, mitch mcconnell. [applause] >> we gather here today to do on

her to the memory -- to do honor to the memory of four little girls. addie mae, denise, cynthia, and carole. we recognize the role of these girls would play in the struggle for civil rights. on a sunday morning in september of 1963, a group of men with monstrous designs inspired to place more than a dozen sticks of dynamite beneath the 16th st. baptist church in birmingham, alabama. shortly after 10 a.m., the dynamite blew, killing the girls and injuring many others and breaking the heart across our country. the force of the explosion ripped through the church, blasting debris over the pews and the culprit -- pulprit, even question cars parked nearby. -- even question cars parked nearby.

nearly every stained last window blew out safer one. the window that showed christ leading a group of children, but with his face missing. the symbolism was potent. after all the tragedy of september 15, the latest environment acts, some felt that god had abandoned them. they had given up hope. yet as scripture assures us, the lord did not abandon his flock. today we know the bombing at the 16th st. baptist church was a decisive turning point in the civil rights struggle.

it did not zap out the embers of freedom, but fans them. news of the tragedy spread. widespread revulsion gave way to political action. rusher mounted. isn't paved the way for passage it suited the wave for passage of landmark legislation. attitudes began to change. looking back, it is amazing to see how far we have come since the days of the bombing. and yet, the deaths of the four girls remains as senseless as they were tragic. i know the denial of justice for so many made the hurt that much worse. i want the family members gathered here today to know that the lives of these children meant something to the history of this country.

they helped change our nation. they remind us of those who seek to divide americans by race not just through violence, but through the kind of decisive rhetoric that we all must unite to defeat. today we offer this congressional gold medal to the memory of four children who set out simply to attend sunday school and not to become martyrs for our cause, but who ascended nonetheless to the pantheon of

americans who continue their contributions to our country. we are forever indebted. i hope this highest civilian honor we present will serve as a permanent reminder of our enduring gratitude. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the majority leader of the u.s. senate, the honorable harry reid. [applause] >> a blast that rocked the 16th st. baptist church five decades ago, blew out every stained glass window in the church

except for one. i know he was going to use this reference, but it is worth repeating. it blew out every stained glass window except for one. one window that remained was an image of jesus leading children to safety. on that september morning, there was no safety for those little girls. addie mae collins, denise mcnair, carole robertson, or cynthia wesley. not even in sunday school. there was salvation for these four young ladies and for our

nation. outrage sparked by the death of these four innocents united the civil rights movement. dr. king said at the funeral for these girls, "god still has a way of bringing good out of evil." there is no greater evil than bombing a church with little kids on a sunday morning. today we honor the girls'sacrifice and remember all of these young ladies. thank you to everyone who cosponsored this legislation further work and dedication to making this possible. as you all know, it is hard for us to agree on anything. i admire what they have done to get things done so quickly. the loss of four precious children more and buy their family and friends and mourned

by an entire nation. let's talk about these girls. denise was an activist even though she was only in elementary school. she raised money for charity by doing things in her garage, her family's garage. she was 11. addie mae was a 14-year-old softball player. an artist who loved to draw. 14. cynthia was very good at math and played in the high school band. she was 14. carole was a straight a student. a girl scout. she sang in the high school choir. she was 14. neither words nor the passage of time can ease the pain of their loss.

even total strangers felt the loss. i believe there is comfort in the knowledge that their sacrifice that this nation on a path toward making justice a reality for all of god's children. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the u.s. house of representatives, the honorable john boehner. [applause] >> i want to say thank you to all of my colleagues come especially eric cantor. he was instrumental in making this medal a reality. i will leave you with this thought -- this does serve a much more fundamental purchase purpose, and that is to honor the blessings that this nation was founded upon. all of those ideas -- like his presses.

put in another way, life is short. these lives were far too short. when ruby realize life is short, we focus on what matters and on who matters -- when we realize life is short, we focus on what matters and on who matters. some would call this a ceremony, but i call it just love. love saw us through this and will see us through the trials that we all face. the symbol of wisdom dr. king used in his eulogy, a little child shall lead them. once again, our children have let us to the simplest of notions. they bring us together. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

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