A resolution recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary of the first day of integrated schools in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Madam President, last spring, a first grade teacher at Barton Elementary School in Milwaukee contacted my office seeking help in furthering a project her classroom had started. The Ruby Bridges Project began as a modest effort to teach a first grade class in Milwaukee, WI, about the courage and bravery another first grader displayed on November 14, 1960, when she became the first child to integrate a public elementary school in New Orleans, LA. Soon, the Ruby Bridges Project grew and expanded because these first graders at Barton Elementary School wanted to teach other students in Milwaukee about Ruby Bridges. These first graders' efforts were featured in the local media and supported by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and then State Superintendent of Education Elizabeth Burmaster, who wrote letters of commendation for the project. The class

also started a petition which garnered over 2,000 signatures from Wisconsinites, and which was sent to President Obama asking him to designate a national day of recognition honoring Ruby Bridges.

On November 14, 1960, Ruby Bridges became the first African-American child to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, LA. While she is forever immortalized in Norman Rockwell's painting as a six-year-old child being escorted to school by U.S. Marshals, with tomatoes splattered in the background, her story is one of courage, bravery and a lifelong commitment to raising awareness of diversity through improved educational opportunities for all children. Even though Ruby Bridges endured riots and protests and retaliations against her family, she attended school at William Frantz every day during the 1960-61 school year. She was supported by her teacher, Ms. Barbara Henry, who herself faced retaliation and was not invited back to teach at William Frantz the following school year. Ruby went on to graduate high school and college, have a career and raise a family.

In 1999, Ruby Bridges established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to help eliminate racism and improve society by educating students around the country about her experiences, discussing ongoing efforts to promote diversity and providing lessons students could take back to their communities. Even today, 49 years after Ruby Bridges became the first child to attend integrated school in New Orleans, LA, her story provides an inspiring example for our young people. The story of Ruby Bridges has affected and influenced the lives of children across the country and one first grade class in Milwaukee, WI, in particular.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this Senate resolution recognizing November 14, 2009, as the 49th anniversary of the first school integration in New Orleans, LA, and commending Ruby Bridges for her bravery, courage and lifetime commitment to raising awareness of diversity through education.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to S. Res. 350.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, that there be no intervening action or debate, and any statements relating to this matter be printed in the Record.