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Congressional Daily Record
This section is a tribute, commemoration, or district-facing statement. It mentions members such as Donald Sternoff Beyer. Extensions of Remarks are statements submitted for the official record, even if they were not spoken live on the floor.
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August 20, 2026
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Extensions of Remarks
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Download official Extensions PDFReturn to issue contextHON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR.
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the Etheredge/Etheridge Family Reunion, taking place from August 20 to August 23, 2026, and to honor a family whose story reflects the resilience, perseverance, faith, and achievements that define the American experience.
Carolina, where their ancestors were born into slavery and were the property of Joseph Etheredge, a farmer and slave owner during the nineteenth century. Following emancipation, like many formerly enslaved people throughout the South, members of the family adopted the surname of their former enslaver, transforming a name once associated with bondage into one that would become a lasting symbol of strength, family, and achievement.
earliest known ancestors, purchased 195 acres of land from Joseph Etheredge, a transaction recorded in the Edgefield County Courthouse. That purchase represented far more than the acquisition of property—it symbolized freedom, opportunity, and the beginning of a self-sustaining African American community.
establishing what became affectionately known as Etheredge Town. Life in Etheredge Town was centered on faith, education, hard work, and community. Families shared resources, raised livestock, hunted and fished, operated a grist and syrup mill, and developed businesses and skilled trades. Even after a devastating storm destroyed their church, they rebuilt it with lumber harvested from their own property, demonstrating remarkable determination and unity.
throughout the United States, from the East Coast to the West Coast. They continue to make meaningful contributions to their communities through leadership, public service, education, business, military service, ministry, healthcare, and civic engagement.
of relatives. It is a celebration of generations who transformed adversity into opportunity, preserved their heritage, and created a lasting legacy for future generations.