Congratulations to our UniverSoul Circus Ticket Winners!!!!!!!!
JaKori Billingsley
Kenya Hill
Joshua Powell
Michael Williams
Andrew Lewis
People, Places and Things
By: Gwen DeRu
AUTUMN! FOOTBALL GAMES! TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY 500! FIFTY: THE DOCUMENTARY! LAUGHTER AT THE STARDOME! RESTAURANT WEEK!!…AND MORE!!!!
Autumn is falling into place. September is full of things all over the place. There will be good food, great entertainment, and plenty of people everywhere.
CONGRATULATIONS BIRMINGHAM!….AGAIN!
BaseballParks.com Names Regions Field ‘Ballpark of the Year’ – Regions Field has been named the Ballpark of the Year for the 2013 season by BaseBallparks.com. Regions Field is the 16th ballpark to earn this award since 2000, joining previous winners AT&T Park in San Francisco, PNC Park In Pittsburgh, PETCO Park in San Diego and Minor League ballparks including AutoZone Park in Memphis and Pensacola BayFront Stadium in Pensacola. The honor is awarded annually to the new baseball stadium with the best combination of superior design, attractive site selection and fan amenities. “The 2013 season and the opening of Regions Field has been an incredible moment for the Barons organization and the Birmingham community,” the Logan family said in a statement. “To receive this national recognition is quite an honor. There are so many people and organizations that have contributed to the development, design and construction of this ballpark and this award along with the local support and reaction definitively proves that Regions Field is a one of a kind ballpark that offers something for everybody.”
“We are so proud of the success of Regions Field,” said Birmingham Mayor William Bell. “To see the diverse crowds, the excitement and the good old fashioned fun at the stadium has really generated a sense of community. We look forward to many years of success for this field.” Regions Field is the second straight Southern League ballpark to win this honor, with Pensacola Bayfront Stadium having earned the award in 2012.
“Regions is proud to have been a part of the team that brought Regions Field downtown,” said Regions North Central Alabama Area President Bill Horton. “Its development and the growth we’re seeing around it has been great for this community. We applaud the citizens and fans of the Barons for coming out and making this great venue a success.”
“Regions Field, an extension of Railroad Park, embraces the City and community with its many views into and out of the ballpark,” said Creig Hoskins, Owner of the Birmingham-based Hoskins Architecture. “This award will bring great recognition to the ballpark and the surrounding community.”
The plaque representing the award will be presented by Joe Mock, site webmaster of Baseballparks.com, at a Birmingham Barons home game in April of next season.
Football is in the air……. all over the place!!
TSU FOOTBALL 2013 COACH JOHN MERRITT CLASSIC – The Tennessee State Athletic Department 2013 John Merritt Press Conference is today, LP Field, 11 a.m. and will feature the Athletic Directors from both TSU and Bethune-Cookman as well as the Tigers’ head coach Rod Reed. The 15th John Merritt Classic is Sept. 1 and will allow both sides to give an update to their team’s progress during spring and fall practices. TSU’s opener will be the first test on the road to building off of last year’s 8-3 record that included a road victory over BCU on Sept. 22. The Tigers return 18 starters from 2012 including all 11 from the Ohio Valley Conference’s top-ranked defense. TSU also brings back Preseason All-American tight end A.C. Leonard and cornerback Stephen Godbolt III. In last season’s John Merritt Classic, the Tigers defeated the Rattlers of Florida A&M, 17-14, thanks to a pair of goal-line stands made by the Big Blue defense. TSU is 10-4 all-time in John Merritt Classic games.
AND, Don’t Miss….. TIM STATUM at the StarDome Comedy Club, this weekend. AND IN SEPTEMBER…….COMING SOON – NEPHEW TOMMY August 30 – September 1, MIDNIGHT SWINGER – September 3 – 15, APRIL MACIE – September 19-22, (my girl) SOMMORE – September 27-29. Look for more right here! (Tell Bruce and Che-Che that I sent you.)
NOW…,
Here are a ‘few’ things to do…. (and…, Don’t Forget to Vote August 27th!)
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS…. There are lots of NEW THINGS going on this year… all over the place. We have made the New York Times a few times… Civil and Human Rights Celebrations are taking over the month of September and it really is all year long but the month will bring many more special events. We have a new documentary on the City of Birmingham and its last fifty years!! (WOW!!! Oh My! Oh My! I have so many things to do…what will they be. There are only 24 hours in each day and I am trying to add more on the full schedule as we speak. I will see you somewhere.)
THIS WEEKEND…
TODAY…,
**PREMIERE OF FIFTY: THE DOCUMENTARY – “Fifty: The Documentary” presented by the Birmingham City Council will premiere today, 6:30 p.m., at the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, 1530 6th Avenue N. The event is open to the public and will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. at the Civil Rights Institute. “Fifty: The Documentary” is a unique discussion and conversation about the change of government in Birmingham from a commission form to the current mayor-council form of government. This documentary will be shown at many of the local churches. Please check with the city and churches in the community for more.
**MARTINI THURSDAY at Ona’s Music Room.
**LIVE JAZZ, 7:30 p.m. with PJ SPRAGGINS AND FRIENDS at Jazz Underground.
FRIDAY….
**SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, this weekend, all over town. Check all the great films being played somewhere in town.
** THE BLACKJACKET SYMPHONY, 8 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center in the Jemison Concert Hall.
**RESTAURANT WEEK still going until Sunday.
**FRANK JORDAN, 5 p.m. and BIRMINGHAM MOUNTAINA RADIO’S ON BROTHER RADIO, 7 p.m. at IRON CITY, 8 p.m.
**KELLY ONEAL with the “KAYOBAND,” 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**VIP FRIDAYS, 9 p.m. (ladies FREE until 11 p.m.) at Merienda’s Lounge, with Happy Hour 5-9 p.m. with drink specials and free food while it lasts.
SATURDAY…
**FOR JAZZ LOVERS – FOURTH AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL, in downtown Birmingham on Fourth Avenue, 1-9 p.m. with NORMAN BROWN and others.
**GREEK MIXER AT CRESCENDO Bar and Lounge, 8 p.m.
**ONA WATSON WITH CHAMPAGNE, 10 p.m. at Ona’s Music Room.
**HEELS AND CHUCKS with D.J. Willie 8 p.m. at Jazz Underground.
**MARK KIMBRELL, 5 p.m. at Iron City.
SUNDAY….
**FOR JAZZ LOVERS – FOURTH AVENUE JAZZ FESTIVAL, in downtown Birmingham on Fourth Avenue, 2-6 p.m. with JAZZ IN PINK and others.
**DOCUMENTARY – THE GIRLS IN THE BAND, 6 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame the Carver Theatre.
**FANTASIA, 8 p.m. at the BJCC.
**FOR MOVIE LOVERS … SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL, last day.
**NATIONAL CENTER FOR SPORTS SAFETY ANNUAL WINE TASTING AND DINNER, 6 p.m. Cocktail Hour and 7 p.m. Dinner with a silent and live auction featuring Wines by Jordan Vineyard and Winery. Call 1(866) 508-6277 for more.
COMING SOON…
**SEPTEMBER 1 – JOHN MERRITT FOOTBALL CLASSIC – The Tennessee State football team would like to invite all fans and Big Blue supporters to Fan Day on Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. in the Indoor Football Facility. The event will be the first chance to pick up the 2013 football poster featuring all of the seniors and members of this year’s Tiger team will be in attendance to sign autographs and take pictures.
There will also be a D.J. to entertain fans and supporters are encouraged to stick around following the autographs to see the team scrimmage at 4 p.m. at Hale Stadium. Last season, hundreds of fans showed up and most received signatures from the entire 2012 team. Admission to the 2013 Tennessee State Football Fan Day is free and will occur eight days before Big Blue squares off against Bethune-Cookman in the 15th annual John Merritt Classic on Sept. 1.
**LABOR DAY WEEKEND – GLENN JONES at CRESCENDO Bar and Lounge Labor Day Weekend.
**SEPTEMBER 14 – BBVA COMPASS CONCERT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – Academy-Award winning superstar JAMIE FOXX will be hosting with JILL SCOTT, songwriter and Grammy Award winning singer and CHARLIE WILSON the 2013 BET Lifetime Achievement Honoree and R& R Singer-songwriter.
**SEPTEMBER 15 – FOUR LITTLE GIRLS: BIRMINGHAM 1963 – You are invited to a very special event in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights, the stage play – Four Little Girls: Birmingham 1963 at 3 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Center. Call 1 (877) 278-8457 more information.
**SEPTEMBER 19-21 – SAINT GEORGE MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL – There will be a great blend of food, music, desserts and people at the Saint George Melkite Catholic Church. There is always great Middle Eastern food in Birmingham at that time. You should never miss this. Food will be served 10:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. with delivery on Thursday and Friday. There will be booths with all kinds of things. AMIN AND THE SULTANS BAND from New York will provide the entertainment. For more information call (205) 252-5788. (Look for more right here in People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu.)
**OCTOBER 25 – CALVIN RICHARDSON at CRESCENDO Bar and Lounge, 8 p.m. Look for more right there.
For you… Birthday Ballers…..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL CELEBRATING!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…MOSE STOVALL, LISA WALLS, LEON FOSTER, DOUG FORD, RUSS McCLINTON, NOELLE PETTIES, CHERYL ELDRIDGE….. MANY, MANY MORE HAPPY BIRTHDAYS!! ENJOY!!
Well, that’s it for now. Tell you more ‘next’ time.
(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com
The Truth About the Truth
The truth hurts! That’s not just a cliché’, but it’s often actually a true statement. Telling the truth, hearing the truth, being open to the truth, digesting the truth, standing up for the truth, seeking the truth, all, truthfully, can feel like you’ve been sucker-punched, WWF-style circa 1989.
The truth is one of those things that can evoke so many emotions. For the releaser of the truth it can bring about fear, second-guessing, anxiety and a myriad of other feelings. For the receiver of the truth (especially when it’s unexpected or goes against what was believed to be the truth) it can bring about anger, isolation, distrust, and so many other unhealthy feelings. Those facets of the truth are especially true in relationships, where pre-conceived notions, hurt feelings, past baggage or stubbornness, pride and other issues come into play.
Here’s a little nugget to ponder. We all need those that love us enough to tell us the truth and those we love enough to let the truth be told. And in the words made famous in Do the Right Thing, “And that’s the double truth, Ruth!”
-Angela Moore
Contact Angela Scott Moore about speaking engagements at amazingkreations2@gmail.com, follow her blog at www.angelamooreblog.wordpress.com, on twitter at @AngelaMMoore316 or check out her facebook page for people experiencing separation or divorce at I’m More Than What Happened.
It’s time for a game change! Vote Michael R. Morrison Birmingham City Council District 6!
A plan to restore and revitalize District 6 communities to the healthy and vibrant areas they once were, combined with the knowledge and ability to deliver results, is the reason Michael R. (Mike) Morrison wants to serve you on the Birmingham City Council.
Mike is a native of the Birmingham area. He has eight years experience as an urban planner and works in the Jefferson County Land Planning and Development Services Department. Mike has always been a hard worker, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a double major from UAB in Political Science and History while holding two and sometimes three part-time jobs.
While looking to buy his first home in Birmingham, Mike considered several up and coming neighborhoods that would be both affordable and convenient to work. By chance, he drove through the Titusville community where he found and purchased a welcoming, safe, affordable haven which has become home.
From his first day as a Titusville resident, Mike has been involved in his neighborhood association and various causes, including working with local charities and volunteering his time with children and seniors. Last year, he was elected Vice President of the Woodland Park Neighborhood Association.
Mike strongly believes that Birmingham and the Western area neighborhoods have unlimited potential. He knows that the time is now to bring back people, businesses and jobs to our communities. As your City Councilor, Mike will give his time, heart, knowledge, energy, experience, resources, enthusiasm, and unbridled work ethic to bring much needed attention and resources to District 6.
Vote for Michael R. Morrison for the representation District 6 deserves!
FROM THE BIBLE
by Jerry Kingery
Be Thankful
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful
unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations,
I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations.
Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:
But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youtth is renewed like the eagle’s.
from Psalms 100 – 103
For a free Scripture packet, please write From the Bible, BIBLE FOUNDATION PO Box 908, Newberg, Oregon 97132; email:bf@bf.org.
Cash For Crooks
Cash For Crooks Div. of Refuge In Trouble Times Community Development, Inc. salutes Travis Holmes, Jr., age 26, who on July 12, 2003 was shot at the Shell Service Station on Lomb Avenue and Tuscaloosa Avenue. Witness saw a white Chevy Impala pull up along side and asked Travis to pull over. When they did, the shooter walked over, shot Holmes in the head and left. There is still an outstanding reward for this homicide listed here.
Will you help by making the call – Crimestoppers – 205-254-7777. NO NICK NAMES PLEASE.
RITT’S founder, Misnister Brenda Paige Ward and other community heads are working with law-enforcers worldwide to help find or solve these and other cases. If you know of a homicide or missing person that you wish seen here call Minister Ward at 205-240-9910 or e-mail at odussasplace@yahoo.com.
Remember don’t let this happen to you before you get involved; Reality is “WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU.” Thank you so much.
Doing What’s Best for Our Children’s Education
by Craig Ford
Education should not be a partisan issue. We should always do what is in our children’s best interests.
I believe strongly in working with the business community to develop curriculums that prepare our children not just for a college education, but also for entering the workforce.
Last week’s announcement of the new Business Education Alliance (BEA) brings this idea to the center of the debate on how best to support and improve Alabama’s public schools.
I agree that schools and businesses need to work together. But it is troubling to see that the new BEA is supported and being run by those who have not always been fully committed to public education.
Former Rep. Jay Love, a Republican from Montgomery, resigned mid-way through his term in the legislature to take a position as the BEA’s new Chairman of Finance.
It bothers me that Rep. Love and so many other Republican legislators are resigning before the end of their terms of office. The voters elected Rep. Love to serve a full term, and his decision to quit three-fourths of the way through means the taxpayers will have to pay for a costly special election to fill his seat for the final year of his term.
But the reason Rep. Love gave for quitting is also hard to understand. Rep. Love said he quit the legislature so that he could “continue working to reform education from the private sector.” But as chairman of the education budget committee, Rep. Love was in a much better position to influence education policies and the quality of our schools than he can ever be as a fundraiser for a private organization.
But let’s consider what the BEA will be advocating for.
I agree with the BEA in that the state should do more to support our pre-k program, as well as the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, the Alabama Reading Initiative, the ACCESS Distance Learning program and Advanced Placement.
But I strongly disagree with the BEA’s hardened support of the Alabama Accountability Act and of charter schools.
The Accountability Act abandons our public schools under the false premise of giving children in struggling schools a choice in where they go to school. In reality, only eight schools in Alabama have agreed to accept these students – eight out of nearly 1,500 schools in our state. Furthermore, the Accountability Act is redirecting $50 million away from our public schools this year alone! And there is nothing in the Accountability Act that helps the children in struggling schools that are not able to transfer to a different public or private school, which Rep. Love estimated would be almost 90 percent of the children in the so-called “failing schools.”
I also disagree with the BEA’s support of charter schools. In other states, charter schools have consistently proven unsuccessful. For every charter school that performs better on testing than a traditional public school, there are two more charter schools that fail. Charter schools have also led to the loss of thousands of teachers in public schools, which only leads to more overcrowding of classrooms and a further decline in performance among struggling schools.
Every child in Alabama deserves a quality public education. That is something that Democrats and Republicans agree on. But we should be focused on our children’s needs and doing what is right for them, not gambling on bad education policies that have proven to be failures in other states.
Education reform should not be a partisan issue. It should be done by getting input from the business community AND from the teachers in the classroom. The only way forward is if Democrats and Republicans work together to create policies that give our children the best chance for a brighter future.
Representative Craig Ford is a Democrat from Gadsden. He has served in the Alabama House of Representatives since 2000. In 2010, Representative Ford was elected House Minority Leader by the House Democratic Caucus. He was re-elected Minority Leader in 2012.
Don’t Be Afraid To Decide
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15
In a world full of choices and options, you may find yourself, at times, confused about which choice to make or which option to take. You wonder and you contemplate whether you’ll make the right choice more often than you would like. Sure you want to make a decision and be ok with the decision you made; however, when the day is over, oftentimes you find yourself questioning your decision. Why? Most of the time the other options begin to appear a better choice, many times others don’t agree with your decision and sometimes you feel uncomfortable with the decision you have made. That’s normal. I don’t believe many people, if any, don’t question their decisions from time to time. I believe that the most successful people in this world question their choices more than we know. There is no shame in wondering if you have made the right decision, the shame is failing to decide.
“Go and tell David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.” 2 Samuel 24:12
When you are faced with options and opportunities to make choices, try to imagine that God is waiting on you to make a decision so He can bless you. Don’t make that decision based on what others think you should do and don’t worry about what the outcome will be. No one knows what the future holds but God and all you have to work with is the knowledge you have today. What will help you sleep at night? What will help you achieve your goals? What is necessary for you to get to the next level? These are some of the questions you want to ask yourself before you make a decision and don’t forget WHAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY? Don’t wait too long because someone else is making a decision too and you don’t want to miss out on something you really want because you procrastinated with making a decision. Besides, you only live once and if at first you don’t succeed, you can try again. Most decisions we need to make are not life threatening so DON’T BE AFRAID TO DECIDE!
What are you going to do?
Minister Deidra Brown
HIV/AIDS study, program coming to local Black churches
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Black church can be a powerful tool in HIV/AIDS education and prevention, according to Magdalena Szaflarski, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Sociology, who plans to replicate in Birmingham an innovative program that found success under her leadership in Ohio.
Szaflarski led a survey in the Cincinnati area of religious organizations to investigate their involvement in talking to congregations about HIV/AIDS prevention. The data from her study, “Faith-Based HIV Prevention and Counseling Programs: Findings from the Cincinnati Census of Religious Congregations,” was recently published in AIDS and Behavior.
With a growing number of HIV educational initiatives in African-American communities, Szaflarski suggests there are opportunities for Black congregations to make a difference.
“Black faith leaders are often unaware of the extent of HIV epidemic in their community,” she said. “Research shows that once they acquire this information, they feel urged and empowered to take action.”
With funding from the National Institutes of Health, Szaflarski collected data in the Cincinnati-area and into Kentucky from 447 religious congregations, including information about Black churches’ levels of HIV/AIDS programming. Specifically, she asked the churches if they offered any HIV prevention programs, education, testing or counseling in the last two years. She also polled them on their theology and structure and examined relationships between these factors and HIV programming in a way no other published study has done.
More than a third of Black Protestant congregations in the study offered HIV/AIDS prevention programs, education, testing or counseling at the time of the study.
“On the down side, a large proportion of churches, more than 60 percent, did not engage in HIV-related activities – although their communities were likely affected by HIV and could benefit from faith-based HIV programs,” Szaflarski said.
Factors that influenced churches’ engagement in HIV programming that explained most of the variation included location, membership and broader community involvement. Identifying these factors was key to understanding the gaps and opportunities for intervention on the ground, she said.
Armed with the knowledge, Szaflarski then worked with a team of community stakeholders, including a faith-based HIV/STD testing agency and a university-based AIDS education center, to help the churches come up with programs to educate their communities about the disease within the comfort of their theological realms.
“We started off talking to them about the HIV epidemic among African-Americans, as well as related social and cultural challenges,” Szaflarski said. “We asked them, ‘Are you ready to be an educational center, develop prevention programming and perhaps allow HIV testing in your congregation?’”
With funding from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science and Training at the University of Cincinnati, Szaflarski and her group worked with the churches for a year. They engaged community stakeholders to brainstorm faith-based strategies to address HIV. The data was analyzed and disseminated back to the churches, along with mini-grants, to help them enhance their HIV programming. A manuscript from this work is under review for publication.
“The community program is taking a life of its own, becoming a ripple effect,” Szaflarski said. “We are excited to see this.”
Szaflarski hopes to replicate her research efforts in Birmingham in collaboration with UAB’s Center for AIDS Research, which has a long history of engaging the faith community in HIV-related issues.
“Our pilot project has made an impact,” Szaflarski said. “It feels good to know that we have helped to mobilize the faith community to take a stand on HIV. We do feel like catalysts for change.”
President Barack Obama Recognized Integrated Military Force During Keynote Remarks at 60th Anniversary Korean War Event in Washington
Brown was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for performing dangerous combat actions that resulted in his fatal crash. In March 1972, Brown’s widow christened a Knox-class ocean escort ship the USS Jesse Brown.
CNN recently ran several stories about the quest of one Korean War veteran, retired Navy Captain Thomas Hudner, who had recently returned to North Korean in an effort to retrieve the remains of his fallen comrade, Jesse Brown. Capt. Hudner was flying his plane to support Ensign Brown’s mission on December 4, 1950 when Brown was shot down. Hudner crashed his own plane in an unsuccessful attempt to save Brown. Capt. Hudner was later awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his valiant efforts.
Korean War Veterans from Across the Nation attended observance
ARLINGTON, Va. – President Barack Obama has participated in a special program along with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and other senior government officials that honored Korean War Veterans and commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the Signing of the Armistice that ended three years
of fighting on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s invasion of the Republic of Korea in June 1950. President Obama provided keynote remarks at the event, held at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
“The Republic of Korea today has one of the world’s strongest economies and is a staunch U.S. ally due to those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice and the service and sacrifice made by our Korean War Veterans,” said Colonel David J. Clark, Director of the Department of Defense (DoD) 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee. “What people need to understand is that the Korean War was a ‘Forgotten Victory’ and marked the end of Communist aggression in Northeast Asia.”
Of particular significance to the African American community is the fact that the Korean War was the first war in which America fought with a military force that was officially integrated, as authorized by the President of the United States. President Harry Truman signed an Executive Order that ended segregation in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948; it took effect in 1950 while the Korean War was raging. That meant African American and white soldiers fought Communist forces, side-by-side, in horrible conditions and on challenging terrain.
Of the 600,000 African Americans who served in the Armed Forces during the Korean War, it’s estimated that more than 5,000 died in combat. During his remarks on July 27, President Obama made special note of these facts. He also alluded to the fact that the first government entity to be officially integrated was the U.S. Military and that the results of that action benefited the nation tremendously, once the Korean War had concluded.
The program on July 27th paid tribute to all Korean War Veterans and commemorated the signing of the Armistice. In addition, United Nations Allies that provided combat troops, medical teams, and other support were also recognized.
Also in attendance were veterans and survivors from the first victorious battle during that war, won in July 1950 by the 24th Infantry Regiment, the nation’s oldest African American combat unit. In addition, members of the 231st Transportation Truck Battalion, another African American unit, attended the ceremonies. The 231st was the only Maryland National Guard unit ordered to active duty to support the Korean War.
The Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee, authorized in the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill, is dedicated to thanking and honoring all the Veterans of the Korean War, their families and especially those who lost loved ones in that war. Through 2013, the Committee will honor the service and sacrifice of Korean War Veterans, commemorate the key events of the war, and educate Americans of all ages about the historical significance of the Korean War.
For more information, visit our website at www.koreanwar60.com Keep connected with the Department of Defense 60th Anniversary of the Korean War Commemoration Committee via Facebook and Twitter, through videos at YouTube or with photos on Flickr.
