Welcome our distinguished guest for todays commemoration program. Nancy ruso. Michael moor r, superintendent of the Little Rock School district. The director of hutchins senter for African American research at harvard university. The honorable mark, mayor of the city of little rock. Cameron shawly midwest regional director, National Park service. The honorable asa hutchinson, governor of arkansas. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the 42nd president of the United States, William Jefferson clinton. [ applause ] ladies and gentlemen, please give a special welcome to the little rock nine. Dr. Patila bills. Elizabe elizabeth egbert. Earnest green. Gloria ray, carlata renear. Dr. Terrence roberts. Mini jane brown tricky. Thelma mothershed, wier. And join us in remembering the late Jefferson Thomas. Ladies and gentlemen, the little rock nine. [ applause ] please welcome to the podium our mc for today. An educator and Community Leader and the first African American to attend Little Rock Central High School for 10 lth, 11th and 12th grades before graduating in 1962. Dr. Civil jordan hampton. Please be seated. Thank you. Good morning. Welcome to this historic day. Thank you to each of you who are here today. Some have travelled from down the block and others have come from around the country and overseas. As i look out into this crowd i see many familiar faces, many longtime friends. I also see many new faces. No matter how far you travel to be here or how many people in this room you know, please know we are honored to have you here without you here in this audience the event would not be complete. You a key component of this commemoration ceremony. Now please rise for the presentation of colors by the arkansas 31st air force junior rotc from Little Rock Central High School. This will be followed by theall. This will be led by the student body president s of each of Little Rocks School districts five high schools. Aaron farmer of Little Rock Central High School. Shayla williams of jay a fair high school. Muhammad malik, zihere love of john l. Mcclellan high school, and Catherine Cullen of park view arts and science magnet high school. After the pledge pamela smith, director of communications for the Little Rock School district will sing the national anthem. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america and to the republic for which it stands one nation under god indivisible with liberty and justice for all. O say, can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming . Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming . And the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh, say, does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave . Our opening prayer will be given by dr. Luvrn bell tolliver, pastor of cme church. Good morning. I stand here first on behalf of the ua little rock and the members of bullet temper Methodist Church who enjoyed a rich one church, one School Partnership with Central High School. To the remaining members of the little rock nine i stand and thank you also on behalf of phase two of the desegregation process. The first 25 to deseg reigate the five junior high schools. Im one of those. Thank you for blazing the trail. Lelt us bow before grace. God of our weary years, god of our silent tears thow who has brought us this far on the way, thow who has kept us forever in the path, we pray. Father, as we approach you today we rejoice and say thank you. We remember how far you have brautd us. Thank you, lord for allowing this curages group of former members, students known forever as the little rock 9 to willingly put on their armor as they fought injustice. We thank you for allowing their actions and those of others around this state and country to ultimately topple many of the laws that prevented equal access to books, equipment and schools that were not outdated or substandard. Thank you also father for allowing them to be the forerunners of change and eradicators of jim crow laws that held our forparents in the cruel grip of post slavery times. Now father we thank you for allowing this Group Present today to shine your clear pren traiting light on situations that continue to need enhancement. You know that our Public Schools still need improvement on many levels. Allow us, father, to remain diligent and faithful. In the pursuing the cause for all students of every race, creed, color and gender with the opportunity to receive a Quality Public School education. Help us remember the path for the purpose of building a brighter, stronger and more successful future together for every child. Equip our familys faith can communities and public academicing institutions with the resources and willingness to Work Together to help every child succeed. We thank you and we praise you. In jesus name, amen. You may be seated. This is a room filled with dig nuitaries. We have current and former elected officials from federal, state and local government. We have heads of state agencies, Higher Education institutions, and churches. As well as civil rights leaders. Also in the audience is a delegation from our sister city in new castle up on time, united kingdom. In the interest of time were not going to recognize each person by name but to each and everyone of you and to all those gathered today, welcome. Thank you for being here. I want to take this time to remember one who is not here. On september fifth, 2010, Jefferson Thomas passed away. We are honored to have his widow mary, here with us today. As a tribute to jeff we have an empty chair on the stage draped in a ribbon of centrals colors of old gold and black. Please join me in a moment of silence for Jefferson Thomass memory. Thank you. As we move into the comments portion of our program, it is my distinct pleasure to bring forward two individuals who served as student body president s of central high. Both also served a decade ago as members of the 50th anniversary Steering Committee. She now works for the Clinton Foundation in new york city and he is an attorney and banker, who is a former member of the Arkansas House of representatives. Joy, student body president in 1993 94, and daren williams, student body president in 1985 86. Lets welcome them. 60 years ago today the scene was much different in this auditorium and in the hallways of this school. Yes, there are Police Officers and media and people milling about on this campus but as we now know the tone and tenner of the day was one of hostility, not hospitality. It was a day of anxiety and anger, not appreciation and applau applause. And elected officials were staying far away from campus, even if their presence was still felt. On behalf of all the little rock student body president s over the years, darren and i are here to officially welcome everybody to this school, our beloved alma mater, where six decades ago destruction was the order of the day but now we celebrate a school where openness is the rule. This year little rock central high turns 90 years old. 10s of thousands of students have walked through these hallowed halls. Each with a story to tell. As i look at seniors gathered on stage, i think of my own two students who are recent gradu e graduates of central. Im honored to be a part of the story of this school. Its fitting were in the Roosevelt Thompson auditorium with the little rock 9. Rosy the experiences he had in then governor clintons office and yale were feasible because of his time at central and the opportunities he had at central were made possible because of the curages efforts of the little rock 9. Today over 27 languages are spoken that homes of central high students. Regardless of our race or ethnicity, we all owe a debt of gratitude to little rock 9 and as abrams who is with us here today reminds us all we pay back debt through service. So welcome to Little Rock Central High School. Hail to the old gold, hail to the all black. Thank you joy and daren. Though president eisenhower had tried to broken an agreement with the govern through the efforts of congressman brooks hayes it was not until little rock mayor woodrow mann pleaded for federal intervention that the president sent in the 100 first airborne. I now present to you to bring greetings, the current mayor of little rock, mark. Good morning everyone. Thank you. You know today is a city and as americans, we pause to reflect on the events of september 25th, 1957, as one of the first struggles of the civil rights movement. We are here commemorating the 60th anniversary of the opening of these High School Doors to nine Young High School students who endured incredible adversity to integrate central high and the profound impact that it made and continues to make on the issues of equality and opportunity, not just on the city and the state, not just on this country but indeed on the world. We are here today to commemorate this extraordinary struggle for equality and opportunity and ultimate triumph in the history of urnation and in the history of our city. Indeed when earnest green marched as a senior to receive his diploma in Quigley Stadium, the world noticed and dr. Martin luther king was there to witness the occasion. Today we acknowledge this painful moment in our past and we reflect on the progress that we have made. As was mentioned, we are sitting in the Roosevelt Thompson auditorium, named after one of little rocks most gifted African American students. A student body president and a yale scholar taken from us too soon but who accomplished so mump in his short life. A young man who was given an opportunity and did he ever excel. The legacy of the little rock 9 requires that we dedicate ourselves to the work that remains unfinished. I want to thank you little rock 9 for continuing to come back to little rock and commemorate this significant day. But it doesnt go unnoticed that most of you left little rock after your High School Days and achieving meaningful and disti g distinguished careers and finding that opportunity wherever it existed. Much of our work here in little rock centers on the idea of opportunity. How do we insure all our people have access to opportunity to pursue their dreams . Recently i saw the film Hidden Figures based on the book about the African American female math metitians at nassau and it struck me it was set in 1961, four years after the events of the Little Rock Central High School and seven years after the decision of brown verses board of education, the Supreme Court decision. And yet in 1961, virginia, the resistance to integration was rampant. However, three brilliant African American women at nassau, were given the opportunity to excel and in so doing served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history. The successful launch of astronaut john glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored our nations confidence in ourselves and galvanized the world. That story, like the individual Success Stories of the little rock 9 exemplifies what people are capable of when given an opportunity. I cant help but think of the possibilities that could have transpired had the little rock 9 had the ability to accomplish the magnificent work they had achieved were it right here in little rock. How much are we missing out on by not presenting opportunities for our people to thrive right here at home . The stakes are incredibly high. And every time a child has run into this world, those continue to rise. How do we harness the potential of every child and person in our city . Accomplishing that goal is incredibly complicated and it requires the involvement of every part of our community. It cannot be done by government alone. It requires a Stable Family structure, no matter how big or what that family looks like. Early child hood education is key and graduation is paramount. Health and proper nutrition are essential for learning. And so is the physical environment. Work skills and a job. Making more than a minimum wage play as huge role in a persons ability to maximize opportunity. As i reflect on the progress that we have made as a city, i recognize that while we have made great strides, we still have much work to do. At city hall these goals are what keep us going in the areas where we can help. It is why through the recovery act 8. 6 million was injected into the neighborhoods south of interstate 630. Over 100 Housing Units were created in the very neighborhoods right here around central high. Its why each year people become world changers and in the course of two weeks transformed the homes of elderly citizens in fixed incomes in the most challenging neighborhoods. Its why this friday thanks to the Americorps Program will launch the neighborhood safety core where we will have 30 Young People Working year round, cleaning up the hot spots in our city prone to crime. Its why, through our multiple felony reentry programs, were giving people a second chance. But i will be the first to say there is so much more for us to do. But as much as anything, accomplishing this goal requires being given an opportunity. Because we have seen that given an opportunity our people can overcome almost any challenge. So my challenge to all of us, to our city today is to use the examples set by the little rock 9 and share the opportunities you have been given. There is much work to do. Do not pull up the ladder behind you. Mentor a child, encourage education and success. Help a young adult getting a job and getting into the work force. Give them that first opportunity to learn responsibility and self respect. Use the opportunities that you have been given and that degree, high school or college that youve earned to give back and to help the next generation of leaders in our city. The central high crisis of 1957 is part of our history. But it does not have to be our legacy. Our legacy is the story of how far we have come in the resolve to finish the Unfinished Business of opening the doors to opportunity. Indeed the legacy of the little rock nooicine requires it. So lets take this is reflective day as a springboard to dedicating our selves to the mission. Seize the day, seize the opportunity. Our future depends on it. Thank you very much. Through the efforts of u. S. Senators dale bumpers and tim hutchinson, along with congressman vic snider, little rock central high was declared a nation al historic site. That legislation was signed into law by president bill clinton. Central high school is the only National Park site that is also a functioning high school. Representing the National ParkService Today is mr. Cameron shawly, the midwest regional director of the National Park service. Welcome. Morning. Its great to be in a room filled with so many generations of inspiring people. And before i get started, a special shout out to nancy rue so. Shes such a tremendous partner, its been incredible. Thanks to the School District and the city for having us here. On behalf of the entire National Park service, including robin white who is the superintendent and her tremendous team, were so proud to be a part of this event with you commemorating this important anniversary. And not just as an organization committed to telling the history of the site in perpetuity but as your partner and fellow citizens. The National Park service proudly manages a system of parks in this country that represent a remarkable collection of places that inshrine our nations enduring principals and remind us of consequences of those like the little rock 9 have made on behalf of this country and it really is our privilege as your steward to protect some of ameri americas most incredible places and to tell americas most historical events. Its an honor we take very seriously. Little Rock Central High School is all of those things. An incredible place with incredible people and its a very important part of our nations history. As all of us know there are parts of that had history that are not easy to talk about. Stories that are very painful and difficult to tell. But its essential that we tell them and that we do it in a way that keeps them in the forefront of the american conscious. That we translate the lessons and the sacrifices of the past into the dialogue of the present and the future. Events that occurred here 60 years ago truly transformed america into a better country. They contributed so important lay to the Nati