Fort Huachuca, Arizona -- Fort Huachuca joined other military installations worldwide in recognizing February as Black History Month with a formal celebration Feb. 18 at the Thunder Mountain Activity Centre.
During the month of February, the Department of Defense celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of African Americans. This year's event, which featured a keynote speaker and food sampling, was sponsored by Raymond W. Bliss Army Health Center. More than 175 people attended.
Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of "Negro History Week," the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month.
In his Jan. 29 document, Presidential Proclamation -- National African American History Month, 2016, President Barack Obama wrote, "America's greatness is a testament to generations of courageous individuals who, in the face of uncomfortable truths, accepted that the work of perfecting our Nation is unending and strived to expand the reach of freedom to all. For too long, our most basic liberties had been denied to African Americans, and today, we pay tribute to countless good-hearted citizens -- along the Underground Railroad, aboard a bus in Alabama, and all across our country -- who stood up and sat in to help right the wrongs of our past and extend the promise of America to all our people. During National African American History Month, we recognize these champions of justice and the sacrifices they made to bring us to this point, we honor the contributions of African Americans since our country's beginning, and we recommit to reaching for a day when no person is judged by anything but the content of their character."
To showcase this year's theme, "Hallowed Grounds -- Sites of African American Memories,"
organizers opened the program with a short presentation featuring photos of significant locations and events that contributed to the history of African Americans in the United States. It gave brief descriptions of the important roles played by the Underground Railroad; Atlanta's Sweet Auburn Avenue; the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, on March 21, 1965; the Mary McCloud Bethane Council House in Washington; the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York; and Beale Street in Memphis, Tennessee.
Guest speaker Brig. Gen. Patrick D. Sargent, commanding general, Regional Health Command-Pacific, added Fort Huachuca to the list of "hallowed grounds." He described the role of the all-black Buffalo Soldiers who were stationed here and told how they were no less brave when it came to fighting than their white counterparts. He showed a snippet of the movie, "Glory," which highlighted the first official black unit in United States during the Civil War and described the challenges black Soldiers faced in a country where they were not treated equally.
"They did not have the same boots, or receive the same training or pay," he said, adding how they still fought with bravery, carrying with them a strong belief in a higher power.
Sargent described how the actions of previous generations made it possible for him to "command the biggest regional health command," describing how the strides made by black Soldiers who came before him "opened doors that not long ago were not only closed -- but locked -- to people of color."
He cited several famous individuals who played roles in paving the way for advancement of African Americans in the military, and described the "firsts" made by several black military leaders today.
Sargent spoke of how he was impressed by learning about the Tuskegee Airmen while he was stationed in Korea, and how they influenced him to follow his dream and reach his goal of becoming an aviator. He added that people need to continue to shape the future.
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door," he said. "Our generation must continue to make a difference for the next generation," he added.
Capitalizing on this year's theme for Black History Month, the general left the audience with one question to ponder.
"What 'hallowed grounds' are you going to create that will make a difference for the next generation?"
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