Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York (August 2019) - Don Victor Mooney, President of the HR 1242 Resilience Project, coordinated 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia on Pebble Beach.
The remarkable lives and legacies of Rev. Augustus Tolton and Lieutenant Michael Healy are emblematic of African-American perseverance and excellence in the face of systemic barriers. Both figures were posthumously honored for their contributions to the United States, as part of a broader initiative made possible, in part, through the federal legislation HR 1242, known as the 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act.
In a poignant moment of symbolic recognition, an event in 2021 saw the delivery of a memento to Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, during a Mr. Mooney's visit to the Vatican. This act highlighted the global and spiritual resonance of these honorees’ lives, connecting their legacy to the overarching mission of human dignity and justice.
Local community leaders, law enforcement, United Nations diplomats, teachers, principals, labor, executives and clergy were recognized for their contributions. His Excellency, Chrisophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United State, U.S. Congressman John Lewis and others contributed with remarks. The ideals our honorees stand for —faith, service, and resilience, remained a beacon of hope toward a richer appreciation of history and a more just future. Fordham University was the title sponsor.
