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We are gathered to commemorate the 75th 

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anniversary of executive orders . 

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9980 and 9981 which 

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desegregated the federal workforce and 

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armed services respectively . Thank you 

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all . Yes . Yes , that's why we're here . 

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Thank you all for joining us on this 

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momentous occasion , bringing 

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individuals with diverse backgrounds 

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together for a common purpose to 

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recognize the significance of these 

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executive orders on the impact of 

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diversity and inclusion and the mission 

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readiness . We also remember and honor 

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trailblazers who served in segregated 

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units and paved the way for total force 

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integration in the 

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official party is today's host , the 

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honorable Gilbert R . Cisneros Junior 

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undersecretary of Defense for personnel 

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and readiness . The honorable Kathleen 

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H Hicks , Deputy Secretary of 

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Defense General Charles Q Brown 

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Junior , the first African American 

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chief of staff of the Air Force 

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sergeant major of the army , Michael A 

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Grinton US , army Brigadier 

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General , Gail E , Crawford us , Air 

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Force Director , military justice and 

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discipline Air Force judge advocate 

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general core Dr Terry A Dickerson , 

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US Coast Guard director , civil rights 

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Division and the first African African 

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American member of the Coast Guard's 

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senior executive service . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 

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the arrival of the official party 

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presentation of colors by the military 

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district of Washington Armed Forces . 

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Honor Guard , the singing of the 

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national anthem by sergeant , first 

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class Keenan mc Arthur US Army followed 

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by the invocation from Reverend Diana 

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Bell who in addition to being the first 

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Department of Defense female chaplain 

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being commissioned over 50 years ago in 

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the United States Navy . 

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As you can see , she's donning the 

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uniform of the United States Coast 

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Guard because she was just recently 

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commissioned as a Coast Guard auxiliary 

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chaplain by the first United States 

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Coast Guard commandant Admiral Fagan , 

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who is also here with us today . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , please remain 

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standing for the presentation of colors 

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by the military Department district of 

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Washington Armed Forces . Color Guard . 

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Oh , say , can you see 

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by the dawn's early light ? 

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What a proudly we at 

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the twilight . Last gleaming 

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foods but stripes and bright stars 

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through the last spot . 

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All the rhyme parts we watched 

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were so good . The dreaming 

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on the rocks . 

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Album's Bursty . Yeah . 

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Through the I thought our flag 

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was , oh , say , 

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does that star spangled 

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it ? Oh , 

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alright . 

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Would you please join me in a spirit of 

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prayer ? Great and loving 

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God . You have poured yourself into 

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this immense creation in which we find 

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ourselves . You have created us to 

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reflect your great diversity and called 

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us to live in community . You have 

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given us teachers to guide the way we 

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are to live . Together in care and 

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mutual respect . Even the plants teach 

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us that to thrive , we must care for 

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one another . Often it has pleased us 

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to disregard the worthiness of some of 

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our brothers and sisters using and 

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abusing one another rather than 

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embracing and honoring one another . We 

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gather in your presence today to 

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celebrate one stride forward in 

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following your design . Our black 

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sisters and brothers have suffered much 

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at our hands but today , we humbly 

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remember one occasion , 75 years ago 

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when as a nation , we finally 

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recognized and embraced them as full 

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coworkers in our armed forces , proven 

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warriors in our nation's defense . We 

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honor their legacy and dedication to 

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building and protecting this great 

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nation . We give thanks to you that 

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our president in 1948 took the 

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courageous step to make their full 

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inclusion into the armed forces . A 

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reality guide all of us to be 

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courageous in following your design of 

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living in full community with one 

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another and thereby honoring you our 

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great and loving God . Amen . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , you may be 

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seated . Thank you so much , Sergeant , 

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first class mc Arthur for that 

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wonderful rendition of our national 

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anthem and to reverend Pullman bell for 

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that heartfelt invocation . We are so 

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blessed to have both of you here with 

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us today . 

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Today , we are honored to have a number 

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of special guests . Representative 

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Stephen Horford , chair of the 

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congressional black Caucus . Thank you 

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congressman for joining us in a special 

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commemoration 

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of equal importance . We also have the 

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pleasure of honoring some very , very 

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special guests with us here . Today on 

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this day , we have the distinct 

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privilege of recognizing exceptional 

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service to our nation during a time 

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when the armed forces were still 

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segregated , representing the original 

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Tuskegee airman and top gun winners . 

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We recognize the contributions of 

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Lieutenant Colonel Shelton Ivan Ware 

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and Mr William TF . 

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In addition , we like to recognize Mr 

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Doug Melville , descendant of the first 

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African American general officers in 

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the Army and Air Forces . Brigadier 

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General James O Davis senior and James 

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General James O Chappy Davis junior . 

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No , 

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M Debian Rice Thurston , daughter of 

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Tuskegee airman . Colonel , retired 

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Price D Rice 

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and Mr Philip Tibbs , son of Tuskegee 

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airman , Howard A Tibbs 

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also joining us today , Lieutenant 

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General , retired Russell Davis , the 

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first and only black chief of the 

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National Guard Bureau 

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and Major General Rita Aragon , the 

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first general officer of the Oklahoma 

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Air National Guard and of Native 

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American ancestry . 

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Welcome . And thank you . In 

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addition to the Tuskegee airmen , we 

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are honored to be in the presence of 

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two Montford Point Marines . 

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These gentlemen were based in Montford 

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Point , North Carolina and became the 

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first African Americans to serve in the 

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United States Marine Corps . 

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Ladies and gentlemen , we are honored 

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to recognize Mr Ivor Griffin 

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and private first class , Claude 

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Leopold David . 

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Now I would like to also take a moment 

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to acknowledge in our audience today , 

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our dod senior leaders , military 

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department , secretaries , acting 

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Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs , 

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the honorable guy Kaya Service chiefs , 

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senior enlisted personnel , federal 

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civilian workforce , contractors , 

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community leaders , and partners , 

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family and friends . Thank you for 

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joining us here today . 

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At this time , I would like to 

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relinquish the podium to the host for 

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today's ceremony . The honorable 

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Gilbert R . Cisneros Junior who will 

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provide opening remarks . Secretary 

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Cisneros , the floor is yours . 

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Good morning , everyone . It's a great 

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pleasure to welcome you to the 75th 

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anniversary commemoration of the 

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desegregation of the armed forces and 

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federal workforce by the enactment of 

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Executive orders . 99809981 . 

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Thank you all for being here today . 

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And I especially want to thank our 

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distinguished guests representing the 

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Montford Point Marines in Tuskegee 

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airmen who helped pave the way for the 

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armed forces integration , your 

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contributions to our nation and this 

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department will not be forgotten . And 

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I thank each of you on behalf of the 

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Department of Defense . So thank you 

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very much . I would also like to thank 

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chaplain Reverend Diana Pullman Ball 

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for delivering the invocation this 

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morning . I also want to welcome our 

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congressional leaders here today . Um 

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My friend , Congressman Stephen Horford , 

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the leader of the congressional black 

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caucus . Thank you for joining us here 

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today and I would be remiss if I didn't 

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acknowledge Deputy Secretary hicks and 

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all her efforts to work on behalf of 

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every member of the Department of 

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Defense . It's with deep appreciation . 

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I acknowledge the diligent dod members 

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and committees who work behind the 

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scenes to plan and execute this 

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ceremony in honor of this momentous 

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occasion . And thank you to Major 

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Brooke Coin for serving as our master 

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of ceremonies . Special recognition 

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also goes to the Department of Defense 

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75th anniversary committee represented 

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by members from the office of Secretary 

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of Defense , our military departments , 

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the United States Coast Guard and a 

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host of other DD agencies for the 

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collaborative efforts over the past 

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several months that allowed us to 

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gather and celebrate the desegregation 

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of the federal government and the armed 

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forces . This commemoration came to 

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fruition because of your tireless 

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dedication . So thank you all for your 

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efforts on July 6th or July 26th , 

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1948 circumventing a resistant 

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Congress . President Harry S Truman 

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became the first commander in chief to 

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use his authority to enact civil rights 

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policy by signing executive order . 

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9980 and 9981 . 

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Executive order , 9980 mandated all 

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personnel actions taken by federal 

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appointing officers shall be based 

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solely on merit and fitness and such 

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officers are authorized and directed to 

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take appropriate steps to ensure that 

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all in such actions , there shall be no 

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discrimination because of race , color , 

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religion or national origin . Further , 

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executive order 9981 directed the 

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desegregation of the US military 

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declaring there shall be equality of 

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treatment and opportunity for all 

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personnel in the armed services without 

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regard to race , color , religion or 

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national origin . This pivotal order 

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also created the President's Committee 

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of Equality of treatment and 

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opportunity in the armed forces tasked 

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with expeditiously implementing the 

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President's directives today . As we 

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commemorate and celebrate the 75th 

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anniversary of these historic actions . 

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I want to take a moment to reflect on 

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the profound historic significance . 75 

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years ago , the armed forces and most 

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of the federal civilian workforce were 

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segregated based on race and ethnicity 

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under policies implemented by President 

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Woodrow Wilson's administration . 

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Despite their bravery to defend freedom 

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abroad . During World War , two , 

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people of color and black Americans in 

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particular continue to endure unequal 

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treatment in the very nation . They 

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were sworn to protect President 

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Truman's orders proceeded to rectify 

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00:15:32,485 --> 00:15:35,250
these wrongs . President Truman took 

281
00:15:35,260 --> 00:15:37,520
this critical step to end racial 

282
00:15:37,530 --> 00:15:39,752
segregation throughout the department . 

283
00:15:39,752 --> 00:15:41,919
But he too acknowledged that there was 

284
00:15:41,919 --> 00:15:44,030
still much to be done to achieve full 

285
00:15:44,030 --> 00:15:46,260
equality and justice for all in the 

286
00:15:46,270 --> 00:15:48,437
decades since the department responded 

287
00:15:48,437 --> 00:15:50,603
accordingly by pursuing purposeful and 

288
00:15:50,603 --> 00:15:52,714
evolving strategies to ensure service 

289
00:15:52,719 --> 00:15:54,886
members and civilians are treated with 

290
00:15:54,886 --> 00:15:56,997
dignity and respect and receive equal 

291
00:15:56,997 --> 00:15:58,663
opportunity to succeed in our 

292
00:15:58,663 --> 00:16:01,570
organization without equivocation . I 

293
00:16:01,580 --> 00:16:03,940
can say that the department's greatest 

294
00:16:03,950 --> 00:16:06,309
strength lies in our people . The 

295
00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:08,542
courageous individuals who volunteer to 

296
00:16:08,542 --> 00:16:11,070
serve our nation have undeniably made 

297
00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:13,191
us the most formidable military force 

298
00:16:13,191 --> 00:16:15,690
in the world . It is through their 

299
00:16:15,700 --> 00:16:17,867
collective efforts and sacrifices that 

300
00:16:17,867 --> 00:16:19,922
we maintain our position as a global 

301
00:16:19,922 --> 00:16:22,750
leader . I'm proud to represent this 

302
00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,010
international constellation of 3.3 

303
00:16:25,020 --> 00:16:27,119
million service members and dod 

304
00:16:27,130 --> 00:16:29,241
civilians who defend our nation every 

305
00:16:29,241 --> 00:16:31,760
day . And while a lot has changed since 

306
00:16:31,770 --> 00:16:34,729
1948 1 continent and department 

307
00:16:35,739 --> 00:16:37,572
is that we're only as strong and 

308
00:16:37,572 --> 00:16:39,906
capable as our workforce that we employ . 

309
00:16:40,330 --> 00:16:42,330
One of Secretary Austin's earliest 

310
00:16:42,340 --> 00:16:44,451
messages to the force made clear that 

311
00:16:44,451 --> 00:16:46,830
taking care of our people is a national 

312
00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:50,070
security imperative , dod strategic 

313
00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,690
advantage is overcoming this my red 

314
00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:55,270
global security threat facing the 

315
00:16:55,280 --> 00:16:57,169
United States and the diverse and 

316
00:16:57,169 --> 00:16:59,336
dynamic talent pool in our nation from 

317
00:16:59,336 --> 00:17:02,289
which it can draw given the evolving 

318
00:17:02,299 --> 00:17:04,880
nature of future global challenges so 

319
00:17:04,890 --> 00:17:07,219
too must grow and evolve to bolster the 

320
00:17:07,229 --> 00:17:09,062
integrated deterrent required to 

321
00:17:09,062 --> 00:17:11,328
overcome these challenges . This 

322
00:17:11,338 --> 00:17:13,394
administration has shown both in the 

323
00:17:13,394 --> 00:17:16,098
words and actions that dud will invest 

324
00:17:16,109 --> 00:17:18,220
in the greatest strategic advantage , 

325
00:17:18,220 --> 00:17:20,331
thereby continuing President Truman's 

326
00:17:20,331 --> 00:17:22,331
legacy of equality of treatment and 

327
00:17:22,331 --> 00:17:24,498
opportunity for those who serve in our 

328
00:17:24,498 --> 00:17:27,239
country's defense . We look forward to 

329
00:17:27,250 --> 00:17:29,439
a special program today and now I'd 

330
00:17:29,449 --> 00:17:31,671
like to turn it back over to major coin 

331
00:17:31,671 --> 00:17:33,838
to introduce our first speaker . Thank 

332
00:17:33,838 --> 00:17:33,449
you very much . 

333
00:17:39,030 --> 00:17:41,839
Thank you uh Secretary Cisneros for um 

334
00:17:41,849 --> 00:17:44,071
your warm welcome and open remarks . Um 

335
00:17:44,071 --> 00:17:46,238
Reminding us of our purpose here today 

336
00:17:46,238 --> 00:17:49,910
and our individual responsibilities at 

337
00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:51,864
this time . I would like to take a 

338
00:17:51,864 --> 00:17:54,229
moment of silence as we remember those 

339
00:17:54,239 --> 00:17:56,540
who served in segregated units , 

340
00:17:57,329 --> 00:17:59,560
persevering through some of the most 

341
00:17:59,569 --> 00:18:02,109
trying times of our Department of 

342
00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:03,140
Defense history . 

343
00:18:15,209 --> 00:18:17,265
Now , I will acknowledge each of our 

344
00:18:17,265 --> 00:18:18,987
military departments for their 

345
00:18:18,987 --> 00:18:21,209
contributions to the successful defense 

346
00:18:21,209 --> 00:18:23,660
of our nation . Paying special tribute 

347
00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:25,704
by highlighting some distinguished 

348
00:18:25,704 --> 00:18:28,869
military units by service component who 

349
00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:31,589
served in an all black unit or fought 

350
00:18:31,599 --> 00:18:34,300
for our freedom before the armed forces 

351
00:18:34,310 --> 00:18:37,599
were desegregated . Unit . Names are 

352
00:18:37,609 --> 00:18:39,720
also printed in your program book for 

353
00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:40,720
your convenience 

354
00:18:47,790 --> 00:18:50,569
in honor of the United States army , 

355
00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:53,949
the 36th colored regiment , 

356
00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:59,260
the 370th infantry , the black 

357
00:18:59,270 --> 00:19:02,859
devils . The 369th 

358
00:19:02,869 --> 00:19:05,609
infantry hail fighters from Harlem , 

359
00:19:06,939 --> 00:19:09,359
the 100 th infantry battalion , United 

360
00:19:09,369 --> 00:19:12,760
States colored troops . First Rhode 

361
00:19:12,770 --> 00:19:16,500
Island regiment , the 51st 

362
00:19:16,510 --> 00:19:17,819
defense battalion , 

363
00:19:20,489 --> 00:19:23,160
the 52nd defense battalion , 

364
00:19:25,410 --> 00:19:27,859
anti aircraft artillery unit , 

365
00:19:29,439 --> 00:19:32,819
infantry units , Calvary armor 

366
00:19:32,829 --> 00:19:36,670
units build artillery units , 

367
00:19:38,209 --> 00:19:41,900
tanker destroyer units , the 

368
00:19:41,910 --> 00:19:44,060
92nd infantry division , 

369
00:19:45,839 --> 00:19:48,290
the 93rd infantry division , 

370
00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:52,250
the second Calvary division , 

371
00:19:53,979 --> 00:19:57,770
the barrage balloon unit and the 

372
00:19:57,780 --> 00:20:00,260
six triple eight central directory 

373
00:20:00,270 --> 00:20:01,650
postal battalion 

374
00:20:05,060 --> 00:20:07,530
in honor of the United States Navy . 

375
00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,729
The 17th special CB 

376
00:20:13,030 --> 00:20:15,880
un special construction battalions , 

377
00:20:17,180 --> 00:20:21,109
us S Mason US 

378
00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,469
PC . 1264 

379
00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,310
naval ordinance battalions , the 

380
00:20:28,319 --> 00:20:31,640
34th naval construction battalion , 

381
00:20:33,089 --> 00:20:36,369
the 80th naval construction battalion 

382
00:20:37,310 --> 00:20:39,260
and the golden 13 

383
00:20:42,050 --> 00:20:45,609
in honor of the United States Air Force . 

384
00:20:46,910 --> 00:20:50,599
The 332nd fighter group , Tuskegee 

385
00:20:50,609 --> 00:20:51,319
Airmen 

386
00:20:54,619 --> 00:20:57,869
and the 477 bombardment group 

387
00:21:00,489 --> 00:21:02,719
in honor of the United States Marine 

388
00:21:02,729 --> 00:21:06,670
Corps . The 16 th Marine Field Depot 

389
00:21:07,790 --> 00:21:10,160
and the Mumper Point Marines 

390
00:21:15,069 --> 00:21:17,069
in honor of the United States Coast 

391
00:21:17,069 --> 00:21:20,500
Guard P Island Life Saving Station , 

392
00:21:21,589 --> 00:21:25,550
United States Lighthouse Service us 

393
00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:29,410
sc Cloud and the revenue cutter 

394
00:21:29,420 --> 00:21:30,469
service . 

395
00:21:37,699 --> 00:21:39,310
The department remembers and 

396
00:21:39,319 --> 00:21:42,239
appreciates the sacrifices of these 

397
00:21:42,250 --> 00:21:46,010
units who defended America at home 

398
00:21:46,020 --> 00:21:49,670
and abroad . Most of these men and 

399
00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:51,709
women are not present with us here 

400
00:21:51,719 --> 00:21:55,599
today , but their courage and fortitude 

401
00:21:55,609 --> 00:21:57,689
will never be forgotten , 

402
00:21:59,569 --> 00:22:01,680
will remember their honorable service 

403
00:22:01,680 --> 00:22:05,060
so that all Americans can be free . 

404
00:22:05,699 --> 00:22:07,810
Thank you to , to these distinguished 

405
00:22:07,810 --> 00:22:11,310
units and for all of our armed forces 

406
00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:21,449
now , it gives me great pleasure to 

407
00:22:21,459 --> 00:22:23,739
introduce a series of guest speakers 

408
00:22:23,750 --> 00:22:25,589
from our military services and 

409
00:22:25,599 --> 00:22:28,150
Department of Defense . Each of our 

410
00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,160
speakers will introduce the service 

411
00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:32,650
component to share their reflections as 

412
00:22:32,660 --> 00:22:34,549
it pertains to the experiences of 

413
00:22:34,549 --> 00:22:38,229
segregation in that service . Following 

414
00:22:38,239 --> 00:22:40,295
the special remarks , we will have a 

415
00:22:40,295 --> 00:22:42,461
musical selection by the United States 

416
00:22:42,461 --> 00:22:46,329
Army Brass Quintet . Our first 

417
00:22:46,339 --> 00:22:49,290
speaker is Doctor Terry A Dickerson . 

418
00:22:50,329 --> 00:22:52,349
Doctor Dickerson is a civil rights 

419
00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:54,415
director for the United States Coast 

420
00:22:54,415 --> 00:22:57,280
Guard . She is the first African 

421
00:22:57,290 --> 00:22:59,479
American woman to serve in the Coast 

422
00:22:59,489 --> 00:23:02,420
Guard's senior executive service . 

423
00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:05,359
Doctor Dickerson's father served in 

424
00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:07,949
colored segregated troops during World 

425
00:23:07,959 --> 00:23:11,260
war two . She comes to a civil rights 

426
00:23:11,270 --> 00:23:14,729
role with deep lived academic and 

427
00:23:14,739 --> 00:23:17,949
professional experience as a first 

428
00:23:17,959 --> 00:23:20,209
grader . She was among students who 

429
00:23:20,219 --> 00:23:22,609
desegregated Catholic schools in her 

430
00:23:22,619 --> 00:23:26,219
hometown of New Orleans . Please help 

431
00:23:26,229 --> 00:23:29,959
me welcome Dr Terry A Dickerson . 

432
00:23:37,859 --> 00:23:40,026
Thank you . So much and good morning , 

433
00:23:40,026 --> 00:23:43,349
everyone before I start , I really must 

434
00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:46,300
thank and acknowledge Victoria Bowens 

435
00:23:46,310 --> 00:23:49,130
and her team and the joint services 

436
00:23:49,140 --> 00:23:51,689
working group she assembled to ensure 

437
00:23:51,699 --> 00:23:53,949
that this anniversary was accorded the 

438
00:23:53,959 --> 00:23:56,910
attention and the space and the time 

439
00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:58,698
and the military arrangements . 

440
00:23:58,698 --> 00:24:00,642
Befitting of an occurrence of this 

441
00:24:00,642 --> 00:24:02,910
magnitude . It has really been an honor 

442
00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,198
working with you and the working group . 

443
00:24:09,949 --> 00:24:11,949
I'll share to that yesterday . Just 

444
00:24:11,949 --> 00:24:14,116
yesterday , the Coast Guard Commandant 

445
00:24:14,116 --> 00:24:16,171
and Vice Commandant hosted President 

446
00:24:16,171 --> 00:24:18,439
Truman's grandson Clifton Truman Daniel 

447
00:24:18,449 --> 00:24:20,560
and he reminded our workforce that it 

448
00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:22,671
was reports of black military members 

449
00:24:22,671 --> 00:24:24,680
and veterans being mistreated and 

450
00:24:24,689 --> 00:24:27,469
beaten , that inspired his grandfather 

451
00:24:27,479 --> 00:24:31,280
to engage in civil rights reform . So 

452
00:24:31,890 --> 00:24:34,319
let me start by sharing a truth with 

453
00:24:34,329 --> 00:24:37,459
you this morning . I was not supposed 

454
00:24:37,469 --> 00:24:40,829
to be here today . I was not supposed 

455
00:24:40,839 --> 00:24:44,079
to be serving in my 23rd year as a 

456
00:24:44,089 --> 00:24:45,645
member of the United States 

457
00:24:45,645 --> 00:24:48,069
government's senior executive service . 

458
00:24:48,589 --> 00:24:50,367
I was not supposed to have held 

459
00:24:50,367 --> 00:24:52,478
successively responsible positions in 

460
00:24:52,478 --> 00:24:54,700
government and I was not supposed to be 

461
00:24:54,700 --> 00:24:58,420
at this podium . Uh Speaking to this uh 

462
00:24:58,430 --> 00:25:01,599
distinguished assembly and a member of 

463
00:25:01,609 --> 00:25:03,890
government leadership . Let me tell you 

464
00:25:03,900 --> 00:25:07,579
why . As Secretary Cisneros mentioned 

465
00:25:07,780 --> 00:25:10,030
during and after President Woodrow 

466
00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:12,660
Wilson's administration , many federal 

467
00:25:12,670 --> 00:25:14,781
government departments adopted racial 

468
00:25:14,781 --> 00:25:17,150
segregation policies . The preceding 

469
00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:19,271
years had not been segregation free . 

470
00:25:19,271 --> 00:25:22,069
But after 1913 , black employees in the 

471
00:25:22,079 --> 00:25:24,949
federal agencies could expect to work 

472
00:25:24,959 --> 00:25:27,229
in the segregated units , eat in 

473
00:25:27,239 --> 00:25:29,420
segregated dining halls and be 

474
00:25:29,430 --> 00:25:31,380
consigned to segregate segregated 

475
00:25:31,390 --> 00:25:34,760
restrooms . Indeed , when this 

476
00:25:35,040 --> 00:25:38,130
imposing uh structure around us , the 

477
00:25:38,140 --> 00:25:40,540
iconic world renowned structure that 

478
00:25:40,550 --> 00:25:42,772
surrounds us , the Pentagon was built , 

479
00:25:42,910 --> 00:25:45,680
it was constructed with twice the 

480
00:25:45,689 --> 00:25:47,856
number of restrooms for a building its 

481
00:25:47,856 --> 00:25:50,670
size . The reason was segregation . It 

482
00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,469
needed to have two sets of restrooms , 

483
00:25:53,479 --> 00:25:56,300
one for white and one for black , 

484
00:25:56,310 --> 00:26:00,010
separate but equal employment wise , 

485
00:26:00,020 --> 00:26:02,131
many black civil service , regardless 

486
00:26:02,140 --> 00:26:04,680
servants , regardless of education or 

487
00:26:04,689 --> 00:26:06,829
work history before the Wilson era 

488
00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:10,010
began to be demoted , denied promotions 

489
00:26:10,020 --> 00:26:12,290
fired if they held jobs . They were 

490
00:26:12,300 --> 00:26:14,890
predominantly clustered in low end , 

491
00:26:14,900 --> 00:26:17,530
low level employment and many were 

492
00:26:17,540 --> 00:26:20,569
placed into all black employee units . 

493
00:26:21,030 --> 00:26:24,109
In 1914 , the civil service commission 

494
00:26:24,119 --> 00:26:25,675
created even another way to 

495
00:26:25,675 --> 00:26:28,520
discriminate . It ordered job that job 

496
00:26:28,530 --> 00:26:31,099
applicants submit a photo of themselves 

497
00:26:31,109 --> 00:26:33,220
with their applications so that black 

498
00:26:33,220 --> 00:26:36,900
people could be screened out . So me 

499
00:26:36,910 --> 00:26:39,770
standing here among you was never 

500
00:26:39,780 --> 00:26:42,300
supposed to happen . Physical 

501
00:26:42,310 --> 00:26:44,532
separation was destabilizing enough for 

502
00:26:44,532 --> 00:26:46,254
African American civil service 

503
00:26:46,254 --> 00:26:48,400
employees . But it also supported a 

504
00:26:48,410 --> 00:26:51,219
culture of exclusion being consigned to 

505
00:26:51,229 --> 00:26:53,520
separate areas , reinforced the idea 

506
00:26:53,530 --> 00:26:56,939
that they must be unfit . So the rules , 

507
00:26:56,949 --> 00:26:58,910
the application filtering the 

508
00:26:58,920 --> 00:27:01,260
segregated facilities shifted the 

509
00:27:01,270 --> 00:27:03,492
manner in which black and white federal 

510
00:27:03,492 --> 00:27:05,949
workers interacted and defined a social 

511
00:27:05,959 --> 00:27:08,126
order that remained part of government 

512
00:27:08,126 --> 00:27:11,569
culture for decades , free and enslaved 

513
00:27:11,579 --> 00:27:13,579
people of African heritage had long 

514
00:27:13,579 --> 00:27:15,801
served in the military and government . 

515
00:27:15,801 --> 00:27:18,135
In spite of bans on their participation , 

516
00:27:18,135 --> 00:27:20,190
military members fought in conflicts 

517
00:27:20,190 --> 00:27:22,135
since before the United States was 

518
00:27:22,135 --> 00:27:24,023
independent and free . The reason 

519
00:27:24,023 --> 00:27:26,510
African Americans served in early 

520
00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:28,687
conflicts was that the military needed 

521
00:27:28,687 --> 00:27:30,520
capable and experienced people . 

522
00:27:30,520 --> 00:27:32,742
Military commanders often had to obtain 

523
00:27:32,742 --> 00:27:35,560
waivers to , to the ban on black people 

524
00:27:35,599 --> 00:27:37,710
so that they could recruit the talent 

525
00:27:37,710 --> 00:27:39,430
they needed glossing over an 

526
00:27:39,439 --> 00:27:41,579
embarrassing period or failing to 

527
00:27:41,589 --> 00:27:43,645
acknowledge this history . History , 

528
00:27:43,645 --> 00:27:46,119
Robs African Americans of the knowledge 

529
00:27:46,130 --> 00:27:48,739
that their community contributed in 

530
00:27:48,750 --> 00:27:51,739
foundational ways to the government and 

531
00:27:51,750 --> 00:27:54,589
the nation . Now , I want to talk about 

532
00:27:54,599 --> 00:27:56,655
the word desegregation so that we're 

533
00:27:56,655 --> 00:27:58,890
all on the same page because scenes of 

534
00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:01,011
inter racialism , meaning mixed crews 

535
00:28:01,020 --> 00:28:03,076
and mixed units that occurred out of 

536
00:28:03,076 --> 00:28:05,189
operational necessity , sometimes 

537
00:28:05,199 --> 00:28:08,189
created confusion about desegregation . 

538
00:28:08,630 --> 00:28:10,686
People see those images now of black 

539
00:28:10,686 --> 00:28:13,140
people serving a long , long before 

540
00:28:13,150 --> 00:28:16,819
1948 and asked what this observance is 

541
00:28:16,829 --> 00:28:19,510
all about this banning of desegregation 

542
00:28:19,520 --> 00:28:21,709
because they rationalize that if black 

543
00:28:21,719 --> 00:28:23,497
people were present weren't the 

544
00:28:23,497 --> 00:28:26,310
services already desegregated . Well , 

545
00:28:26,319 --> 00:28:28,750
the answer is no racial segregation was 

546
00:28:28,760 --> 00:28:31,170
not a volunteer practice , it was an 

547
00:28:31,180 --> 00:28:33,790
official government policy . And as 

548
00:28:33,800 --> 00:28:35,949
such , it had to be officially stood 

549
00:28:35,959 --> 00:28:38,729
down . Those episodic incidents of 

550
00:28:38,739 --> 00:28:41,430
inter racialism they saw were normally 

551
00:28:41,439 --> 00:28:43,949
at one or two locations . And moreover , 

552
00:28:43,959 --> 00:28:46,292
as soon as the operational need was met , 

553
00:28:46,292 --> 00:28:48,237
those units , those crews normally 

554
00:28:48,237 --> 00:28:51,430
resegregated . So an official sweeping 

555
00:28:51,439 --> 00:28:54,050
government policy implementation takes 

556
00:28:54,060 --> 00:28:56,410
an official sweeping government 

557
00:28:56,420 --> 00:28:59,109
termination . And in this case , the 

558
00:28:59,119 --> 00:29:01,410
means of termination where President 

559
00:29:01,880 --> 00:29:04,339
Truman's executive orders , banning 

560
00:29:04,349 --> 00:29:06,459
segregation policies and unfair 

561
00:29:06,469 --> 00:29:08,510
employment practices without an 

562
00:29:08,520 --> 00:29:10,687
official takedown , the policies would 

563
00:29:10,687 --> 00:29:13,550
have continued to stand . I'd be remiss 

564
00:29:13,560 --> 00:29:15,449
if I didn't mention my father , a 

565
00:29:15,449 --> 00:29:17,890
member of the army's 92nd Buffalo 

566
00:29:17,900 --> 00:29:20,178
Infantry Division during World War two , 

567
00:29:20,178 --> 00:29:22,067
he was among what was then called 

568
00:29:22,067 --> 00:29:24,233
colored troops who fought overseas for 

569
00:29:24,233 --> 00:29:26,344
freedoms that he could not experience 

570
00:29:26,344 --> 00:29:28,969
in the United States as much as other 

571
00:29:28,979 --> 00:29:31,310
military members . African Americans 

572
00:29:31,319 --> 00:29:34,810
served with honor valor and courage in 

573
00:29:34,819 --> 00:29:37,449
all black units , some represented here . 

574
00:29:37,599 --> 00:29:39,699
But their accomplishments often went 

575
00:29:39,709 --> 00:29:42,709
unnoted and they still could not eat , 

576
00:29:42,719 --> 00:29:45,140
use restrooms , shop or even worship 

577
00:29:45,150 --> 00:29:47,060
freely in the American South . 

578
00:29:47,949 --> 00:29:49,505
President Truman signed the 

579
00:29:49,505 --> 00:29:51,671
desegregation orders . But think about 

580
00:29:51,671 --> 00:29:54,339
this , it took African American members 

581
00:29:54,349 --> 00:29:56,420
going into spaces and jobs and 

582
00:29:56,430 --> 00:29:58,489
situations that they had previously 

583
00:29:58,500 --> 00:30:01,140
been barred from to make desegregation 

584
00:30:01,150 --> 00:30:03,790
a reality . We must not forget that 

585
00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,540
what they did brought in a new era of 

586
00:30:06,550 --> 00:30:08,680
equality to the government , military 

587
00:30:08,689 --> 00:30:11,589
and the nation . My father didn't talk 

588
00:30:11,599 --> 00:30:13,599
a lot about his experience , but he 

589
00:30:13,599 --> 00:30:15,599
left a memoir and I can tell you he 

590
00:30:15,599 --> 00:30:17,821
would never believe that this time with 

591
00:30:17,821 --> 00:30:20,260
these leaders gathered in this iconic 

592
00:30:20,270 --> 00:30:23,000
setting in this courtyard uh on these 

593
00:30:23,010 --> 00:30:25,219
grounds with his service and that of 

594
00:30:25,229 --> 00:30:28,489
other uh colored units be noted . He 

595
00:30:28,500 --> 00:30:30,278
died without knowing that their 

596
00:30:30,278 --> 00:30:32,333
achievements would be recognized and 

597
00:30:32,333 --> 00:30:35,420
valued many of them posthumously . A 

598
00:30:35,439 --> 00:30:37,495
lot of people think that segregation 

599
00:30:37,495 --> 00:30:39,717
occurred all at once , but it didn't it 

600
00:30:39,717 --> 00:30:41,883
unfolded sector by sector military and 

601
00:30:41,883 --> 00:30:44,050
federal government desegregation was a 

602
00:30:44,050 --> 00:30:46,106
historic turning point that actually 

603
00:30:46,106 --> 00:30:47,828
inspired other institutions to 

604
00:30:47,828 --> 00:30:49,828
desegregate . Black service members 

605
00:30:49,828 --> 00:30:51,995
found the freedoms and acceptance they 

606
00:30:51,995 --> 00:30:54,050
experienced while serving overseas , 

607
00:30:54,050 --> 00:30:55,989
uplifting . Many of them lived in 

608
00:30:56,000 --> 00:30:57,944
places for the first time where no 

609
00:30:57,944 --> 00:31:00,650
segregation existed . The term double V 

610
00:31:00,660 --> 00:31:02,739
was coined as black military members 

611
00:31:02,750 --> 00:31:05,280
pledged to gain victories in the war as 

612
00:31:05,290 --> 00:31:07,457
well as to win that experience of true 

613
00:31:07,457 --> 00:31:09,699
freedom for the black community in the 

614
00:31:09,709 --> 00:31:12,540
United States World War Two produced 

615
00:31:12,550 --> 00:31:14,750
veterans who went to the forefront of 

616
00:31:14,760 --> 00:31:16,969
the American civil rights activism , 

617
00:31:16,979 --> 00:31:18,923
including Oliver Brown , who was a 

618
00:31:18,923 --> 00:31:21,099
plaintiff in the Brown versus Board of 

619
00:31:21,109 --> 00:31:24,099
Education landmark school desegregation 

620
00:31:24,109 --> 00:31:27,069
case . Um Also Medgar Evers who was a 

621
00:31:27,079 --> 00:31:30,250
key deputy to Martin Luther King . Um 

622
00:31:30,260 --> 00:31:32,204
National civil rights leaders like 

623
00:31:32,204 --> 00:31:34,650
Hosea Williams and Whitney Young and 

624
00:31:34,660 --> 00:31:37,170
many others . That spirit induced my 

625
00:31:37,180 --> 00:31:39,124
father to take my sisters and I to 

626
00:31:39,124 --> 00:31:41,124
desegregate Catholic schools in New 

627
00:31:41,124 --> 00:31:43,013
Orleans . We were among the first 

628
00:31:43,013 --> 00:31:44,958
Children to enter previously , all 

629
00:31:44,958 --> 00:31:47,180
white schools . And I asked my mother , 

630
00:31:47,180 --> 00:31:49,369
why , why we had to endure the 

631
00:31:49,380 --> 00:31:51,324
rejection and harassment , walking 

632
00:31:51,324 --> 00:31:53,436
through a community and into a school 

633
00:31:53,436 --> 00:31:55,859
that didn't want us . I asked her why 

634
00:31:56,030 --> 00:31:58,910
we had to be the first . She replied 

635
00:31:58,920 --> 00:32:01,031
that I misunderstood the assignment . 

636
00:32:01,500 --> 00:32:03,900
She said we were not there to be the 

637
00:32:03,910 --> 00:32:06,790
first Verna Dickerson told me that we 

638
00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:08,550
were there to be the last . 

639
00:32:11,290 --> 00:32:11,729
Yes . 

640
00:32:17,180 --> 00:32:20,000
She said we were gonna be the last to 

641
00:32:20,010 --> 00:32:22,339
be segregated and the last to be 

642
00:32:22,349 --> 00:32:25,329
humiliated . And the last to be told 

643
00:32:25,339 --> 00:32:28,750
that we were less than today's 

644
00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,670
government understands our assignment . 

645
00:32:31,910 --> 00:32:34,079
And that is commitment to a future 

646
00:32:34,089 --> 00:32:36,469
where we must ensure that these forms 

647
00:32:36,479 --> 00:32:38,920
of exclusion and intolerance against 

648
00:32:38,930 --> 00:32:42,479
any group are the last . Well , 

649
00:32:42,489 --> 00:32:44,489
progress has been made . But let us 

650
00:32:44,489 --> 00:32:46,378
also acknowledge that our journey 

651
00:32:46,378 --> 00:32:48,267
toward a more just society is not 

652
00:32:48,267 --> 00:32:50,267
complete . The population of senior 

653
00:32:50,267 --> 00:32:52,079
leadership and our military and 

654
00:32:52,089 --> 00:32:54,400
government where strategies and 

655
00:32:54,410 --> 00:32:56,530
policies are conceived does not match 

656
00:32:56,540 --> 00:32:58,373
the demographics of our nation , 

657
00:32:58,373 --> 00:33:01,119
structural and cultural norms are often 

658
00:33:01,130 --> 00:33:04,609
cited as limiting . So we must sponsor 

659
00:33:04,619 --> 00:33:06,841
and support African Americans and other 

660
00:33:06,841 --> 00:33:08,841
minor ized individuals with genuine 

661
00:33:08,841 --> 00:33:11,280
advocacy , visible assignments and 

662
00:33:11,290 --> 00:33:13,290
networking , which are paramount to 

663
00:33:13,290 --> 00:33:15,290
progression to the upper and senior 

664
00:33:15,290 --> 00:33:17,609
ranks . At the same time , we must tell 

665
00:33:17,619 --> 00:33:20,150
and prepare our workforce to expect 

666
00:33:20,160 --> 00:33:22,310
diverse leadership who possess at 

667
00:33:22,319 --> 00:33:24,569
attributes that they may not have 

668
00:33:24,579 --> 00:33:26,939
previously encountered . And I might 

669
00:33:26,949 --> 00:33:30,630
say we need to know the injustices that 

670
00:33:30,640 --> 00:33:32,989
people faced and continue to face as a 

671
00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:35,167
government official . It takes courage 

672
00:33:35,167 --> 00:33:37,719
and accountability to want to know the 

673
00:33:37,729 --> 00:33:40,020
injustices faced by your workforce or 

674
00:33:40,030 --> 00:33:42,252
your constituents . Even if what you're 

675
00:33:42,252 --> 00:33:44,219
hearing is an unpleasant or 

676
00:33:44,229 --> 00:33:46,920
inconvenient truth or memory . If 

677
00:33:46,930 --> 00:33:49,319
someone suffered exclusion , I want to 

678
00:33:49,329 --> 00:33:52,030
know about it , it may make us feel bad , 

679
00:33:52,290 --> 00:33:54,457
but that is no reason not to apply the 

680
00:33:54,457 --> 00:33:56,420
courage it takes to be alert and 

681
00:33:56,430 --> 00:33:58,510
attentive and responsive to the 

682
00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:00,780
unfairness faced by others . 

683
00:34:08,219 --> 00:34:10,386
Remembering President Truman's actions 

684
00:34:10,386 --> 00:34:12,550
of 75 years ago offers an opportunity 

685
00:34:12,560 --> 00:34:14,393
for our nation to understand the 

686
00:34:14,393 --> 00:34:17,370
relevance of colored troops and black 

687
00:34:17,379 --> 00:34:19,350
civil servants , not just to black 

688
00:34:19,360 --> 00:34:22,580
history , but to American history . It 

689
00:34:22,590 --> 00:34:24,257
symbolizes the triumph of the 

690
00:34:24,257 --> 00:34:26,669
collective human spirit over forces 

691
00:34:26,679 --> 00:34:28,989
that malign and divide . It stands as a 

692
00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:31,111
testament to the goal of equal rights 

693
00:34:31,111 --> 00:34:33,222
for all . And the occasion is as much 

694
00:34:33,229 --> 00:34:35,750
about the imperative of inclusion as it 

695
00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:37,482
is about the perniciousness of 

696
00:34:37,482 --> 00:34:40,168
withholding it . Today , we recollect 

697
00:34:40,178 --> 00:34:42,428
brave souls who ate and segregated 

698
00:34:42,438 --> 00:34:45,309
dining , used separate facilities , 

699
00:34:45,319 --> 00:34:48,279
suffered economic inequity and still 

700
00:34:48,289 --> 00:34:50,509
they served , they endured the 

701
00:34:50,519 --> 00:34:52,575
humiliation of government sanctioned 

702
00:34:52,575 --> 00:34:55,468
segregation , signss and office spaces . 

703
00:34:55,479 --> 00:34:57,229
They drank from separate water 

704
00:34:57,239 --> 00:35:00,969
fountains and still they served these 

705
00:35:00,979 --> 00:35:03,209
characteristics by their existence . 

706
00:35:03,219 --> 00:35:06,090
Stamp them as being unworthy of sharing 

707
00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:09,610
a space and still they served . 

708
00:35:09,959 --> 00:35:13,110
They rose every day to do the nation's 

709
00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:14,879
work . Thank you . 

710
00:35:24,669 --> 00:35:26,891
Now it gives me great pleasure to bring 

711
00:35:26,891 --> 00:35:29,260
forward Brigadier General Crawford . 

712
00:35:29,409 --> 00:35:31,298
Born and raised in Jacksonville , 

713
00:35:31,298 --> 00:35:34,199
Florida by John and Henry Crawford . 

714
00:35:34,360 --> 00:35:37,610
She joined the Air Force at age 19 as 

715
00:35:37,620 --> 00:35:40,110
an airman basic . She now serves as 

716
00:35:40,120 --> 00:35:42,800
director of military justice and 

717
00:35:42,810 --> 00:35:44,810
discipline where she supervises the 

718
00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:47,340
administration of military justice 

719
00:35:47,350 --> 00:35:49,739
throughout the Air Force and the Space 

720
00:35:49,750 --> 00:35:51,959
Force . Please help me welcome 

721
00:35:51,969 --> 00:35:54,060
Brigadier General Crawford . 

722
00:36:01,129 --> 00:36:02,030
Good morning 

723
00:36:05,060 --> 00:36:08,909
congressman , the OD leaders honored 

724
00:36:08,919 --> 00:36:12,850
guest . It is my greatest 

725
00:36:13,550 --> 00:36:15,770
honor to be here to share this space 

726
00:36:15,780 --> 00:36:17,947
with you and to speak with you today . 

727
00:36:18,610 --> 00:36:21,139
I'd like to talk briefly about three 

728
00:36:21,149 --> 00:36:24,459
freedoms , the freedom to live , 

729
00:36:25,389 --> 00:36:29,250
the freedom to serve and what I call 

730
00:36:29,260 --> 00:36:32,979
the freedom to lead the 

731
00:36:32,989 --> 00:36:34,989
Emancipation Proclamation . And the 

732
00:36:34,989 --> 00:36:37,120
ratification of key amendments to the 

733
00:36:37,129 --> 00:36:39,830
constitution ensured the legal 

734
00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:42,909
protection for my enslaved ancestors 

735
00:36:43,530 --> 00:36:45,629
from the civil war through the civil 

736
00:36:45,639 --> 00:36:49,530
rights era , brave American spot on the 

737
00:36:49,540 --> 00:36:52,389
battlefield in the streets , in the 

738
00:36:52,399 --> 00:36:54,290
hallways and ultimately in the 

739
00:36:54,300 --> 00:36:57,360
courtrooms to ensure people who look 

740
00:36:57,370 --> 00:37:01,050
like me could live a life of 

741
00:37:01,060 --> 00:37:05,040
freedom and dignity protected by equal 

742
00:37:05,050 --> 00:37:08,489
rights under the law . This 

743
00:37:09,120 --> 00:37:12,459
I call the freedom to live , but it did 

744
00:37:12,469 --> 00:37:15,909
not come easily . I'd like to share a 

745
00:37:15,919 --> 00:37:18,086
brief story with you about my family . 

746
00:37:18,770 --> 00:37:21,659
Years ago , we began a search to find 

747
00:37:21,669 --> 00:37:24,459
our ancestral connection to our 

748
00:37:24,469 --> 00:37:27,929
homeland . As many of , you know , 

749
00:37:27,939 --> 00:37:31,709
prior to 18 65 people of 

750
00:37:31,719 --> 00:37:34,159
color , enslaved people did not have 

751
00:37:34,169 --> 00:37:37,879
the same record keeping uh abilities or 

752
00:37:37,889 --> 00:37:41,709
apparatus and census taking as the 

753
00:37:41,719 --> 00:37:44,270
white Americans had like many 

754
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:47,260
descendants of enslaved people . Our 

755
00:37:47,270 --> 00:37:49,590
search for our ancestors hit a brick 

756
00:37:49,600 --> 00:37:52,899
wall . In fact , our trail ran 

757
00:37:52,909 --> 00:37:56,379
cold with my paternal grandfather , 

758
00:37:56,389 --> 00:37:59,949
William Crawford . My visit to a 

759
00:37:59,959 --> 00:38:03,260
museum in Montgomery , Alabama led us 

760
00:38:03,270 --> 00:38:06,449
to a shocking discovery that shed light 

761
00:38:06,580 --> 00:38:09,750
on this mystery . Anthony 

762
00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:12,790
Crawford , a black farmer in Abbeville , 

763
00:38:12,800 --> 00:38:15,580
South Carolina was the descendant of a 

764
00:38:15,590 --> 00:38:19,350
freed slave , the patriarch of a large 

765
00:38:19,360 --> 00:38:22,370
multigenerational family and the owner 

766
00:38:22,379 --> 00:38:25,330
of 427 acres of land . 

767
00:38:26,199 --> 00:38:29,600
He built schools and churches . So his 

768
00:38:29,610 --> 00:38:32,739
Children and grandchildren could attend 

769
00:38:32,750 --> 00:38:36,580
freely in 1916 . After a dispute 

770
00:38:36,590 --> 00:38:39,469
with a white merchant over the price of 

771
00:38:39,479 --> 00:38:42,260
Anthony's cotton seed . Anthony was 

772
00:38:42,270 --> 00:38:46,030
jailed , then dragged out by an angry 

773
00:38:46,040 --> 00:38:49,879
white mob who beat , stabbed , 

774
00:38:49,889 --> 00:38:53,379
shot and then lynched him in the town 

775
00:38:53,389 --> 00:38:56,840
square . His land was seized . His 

776
00:38:56,850 --> 00:38:58,810
businesses were shuttered and his 

777
00:38:58,820 --> 00:39:01,919
descendants were run out of town under 

778
00:39:01,929 --> 00:39:03,707
a threat that they too would be 

779
00:39:03,707 --> 00:39:06,840
murdered if they stayed . And so they 

780
00:39:06,850 --> 00:39:10,620
scattered . Two generations later , my 

781
00:39:10,629 --> 00:39:12,129
father and his family were 

782
00:39:12,129 --> 00:39:14,407
sharecroppers . Not far from Abbeville , 

783
00:39:14,407 --> 00:39:16,959
South Carolina . Dad dropped out of 

784
00:39:16,969 --> 00:39:19,136
school in the fourth grade to help his 

785
00:39:19,136 --> 00:39:21,080
parents work the land so that they 

786
00:39:21,080 --> 00:39:23,479
could pay their debts and break free 

787
00:39:23,489 --> 00:39:27,070
from their debtors . As a teenager , my 

788
00:39:27,080 --> 00:39:29,679
father moved to Jacksonville Florida 

789
00:39:29,780 --> 00:39:32,229
and became a brick mason and married my 

790
00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:35,179
mother through hard work and 

791
00:39:35,189 --> 00:39:38,840
determination . He provided a life 

792
00:39:38,850 --> 00:39:42,659
for our family . It's hard not to 

793
00:39:42,669 --> 00:39:45,659
wonder what could have been had the 

794
00:39:45,669 --> 00:39:48,620
Crawford family been free to live 

795
00:39:50,060 --> 00:39:53,010
my siblings and I are so grateful as we 

796
00:39:53,020 --> 00:39:56,229
are the products of grave struggles 

797
00:39:56,239 --> 00:39:59,159
that we did not have to bear . I 

798
00:39:59,169 --> 00:40:01,336
wouldn't be here today were not for my 

799
00:40:01,336 --> 00:40:03,750
father's strength sacrifices , 

800
00:40:03,760 --> 00:40:06,830
perseverance , guidance , and love . 

801
00:40:07,489 --> 00:40:11,449
He was my first mentor . He 

802
00:40:11,459 --> 00:40:15,209
realized my family's freedom to live 

803
00:40:16,879 --> 00:40:20,290
and now the freedom to serve . I joined 

804
00:40:20,300 --> 00:40:22,679
the Air Force as an airman basic just 

805
00:40:22,689 --> 00:40:26,290
after my 19th birthday . Although I was 

806
00:40:26,300 --> 00:40:28,770
a voracious reader , my first 

807
00:40:28,780 --> 00:40:31,002
supervisor for some reason thought that 

808
00:40:31,002 --> 00:40:34,739
I couldn't read . I am 

809
00:40:34,750 --> 00:40:37,169
grateful mostly for my second 

810
00:40:37,179 --> 00:40:40,919
supervisor , an amazing senior NCO 

811
00:40:40,929 --> 00:40:42,707
who created an , who created an 

812
00:40:42,707 --> 00:40:45,969
environment of dignity and respect 

813
00:40:45,979 --> 00:40:48,449
where I and my fellow airmen could 

814
00:40:48,459 --> 00:40:51,889
bring our whole selves and serve this 

815
00:40:51,899 --> 00:40:54,580
great nation to the best of our 

816
00:40:54,590 --> 00:40:58,310
potential . He taught me that the 

817
00:40:58,320 --> 00:41:01,979
best leaders pursue excellence and 

818
00:41:01,989 --> 00:41:04,179
manage talent in the pursuit of that 

819
00:41:04,189 --> 00:41:07,320
excellence . They take care of people 

820
00:41:07,459 --> 00:41:10,300
so that the people can take care of the 

821
00:41:10,310 --> 00:41:13,820
mission . Although there was an 

822
00:41:13,830 --> 00:41:16,052
executive order signed by the president 

823
00:41:16,052 --> 00:41:19,469
decades prior , it was that senior 

824
00:41:19,479 --> 00:41:23,139
NCO who realized my freedom to 

825
00:41:23,149 --> 00:41:27,000
serve and finally the freedom 

826
00:41:27,010 --> 00:41:30,459
to lead as a young captain . I 

827
00:41:30,469 --> 00:41:34,129
attended a gigantic NCR 

828
00:41:34,139 --> 00:41:36,459
general officer promotion ceremony 

829
00:41:36,469 --> 00:41:40,060
where I met Major General Mary Saunders . 

830
00:41:41,040 --> 00:41:44,250
I had never seen a black female general 

831
00:41:44,260 --> 00:41:47,820
officer . And so I wandered over to the 

832
00:41:47,830 --> 00:41:49,886
crowd that was circled around her as 

833
00:41:49,886 --> 00:41:53,010
she was holding court . Someone in the 

834
00:41:53,020 --> 00:41:56,219
crowd asked her if she had ever had a 

835
00:41:56,229 --> 00:41:59,969
problem as a leader because of her race 

836
00:41:59,979 --> 00:42:03,540
or gender without missing a beat . 

837
00:42:03,669 --> 00:42:06,469
She said , I've never had a problem . 

838
00:42:07,399 --> 00:42:09,840
Now , I've met some people and they had 

839
00:42:09,850 --> 00:42:12,959
a problem , but I have never had a 

840
00:42:12,969 --> 00:42:15,939
problem . Those words 

841
00:42:15,949 --> 00:42:17,959
changed my life . 

842
00:42:20,409 --> 00:42:23,699
I call what General Saunders said , 

843
00:42:24,550 --> 00:42:28,209
the freedom to lead . I stand here 

844
00:42:28,219 --> 00:42:32,090
today as one of many , many firsts . My 

845
00:42:32,100 --> 00:42:35,439
prayer is that we will be the last of 

846
00:42:35,449 --> 00:42:39,449
the firsts . Our next speaker 

847
00:42:39,459 --> 00:42:42,449
is a soldier who is part of multiple 

848
00:42:42,459 --> 00:42:45,659
squads . He notes that he is a member 

849
00:42:45,669 --> 00:42:48,620
of the best squad in the army as he 

850
00:42:48,629 --> 00:42:50,780
serves with the service secretary and 

851
00:42:50,790 --> 00:42:54,149
the chief in the office of the sergeant 

852
00:42:54,159 --> 00:42:58,159
major of the army . The sergeant major 

853
00:42:58,169 --> 00:43:00,280
of the army says that he is in the 

854
00:43:00,290 --> 00:43:02,899
second best squad in the army as the 

855
00:43:02,909 --> 00:43:06,219
squad leader . But his favorite squad 

856
00:43:06,229 --> 00:43:09,439
is his family where he's Alexandra's 

857
00:43:09,449 --> 00:43:13,379
husband , Sofia and Isabella's dad . 

858
00:43:13,919 --> 00:43:16,889
Please welcome the sergeant major of 

859
00:43:16,899 --> 00:43:18,919
the army , Michael Riston , 

860
00:43:25,709 --> 00:43:28,699
right ? Um Some people say , why are 

861
00:43:28,709 --> 00:43:30,709
you up here ? There's a lot of blue 

862
00:43:30,709 --> 00:43:33,780
behind me and I appreciate they put me 

863
00:43:33,790 --> 00:43:36,149
in between the two Air force . Um And I 

864
00:43:36,159 --> 00:43:38,270
am in the best squad , sir . I remind 

865
00:43:38,270 --> 00:43:41,209
them of the uh the army squad . Um And 

866
00:43:41,219 --> 00:43:43,441
then you gotta have , you gotta have it 

867
00:43:43,441 --> 00:43:45,386
enlisted . So that's if you're all 

868
00:43:45,386 --> 00:43:47,552
trying to figure out why I'm up here , 

869
00:43:47,552 --> 00:43:49,497
that's kind of why it is . So it's 

870
00:43:49,497 --> 00:43:51,663
really the truth , but you'll , you'll 

871
00:43:51,663 --> 00:43:53,719
figure this out in a minute . Um One 

872
00:43:53,719 --> 00:43:55,830
more time for the Tuskegee airmen and 

873
00:43:55,830 --> 00:43:57,663
Munford uh Marines . Thank you . 

874
00:44:02,669 --> 00:44:04,780
And a special thanks . I , I think he 

875
00:44:04,780 --> 00:44:07,002
said it my name . What's your name ? He 

876
00:44:07,002 --> 00:44:09,169
says I go by point man , you know , in 

877
00:44:09,169 --> 00:44:11,113
the army , we like that . He's all 

878
00:44:11,113 --> 00:44:13,280
pointing at him . So special thanks to 

879
00:44:13,280 --> 00:44:15,502
you for being here as you heard . I'm a 

880
00:44:15,502 --> 00:44:17,669
uh you know , I'm a part of , a lot of 

881
00:44:17,669 --> 00:44:19,725
squads um mentioned my family . Um I 

882
00:44:19,725 --> 00:44:21,947
think I'm a squad leader . I'm not sure 

883
00:44:21,947 --> 00:44:24,113
in that one . I think my wife might be 

884
00:44:24,113 --> 00:44:26,058
the squad leader some days , I'm a 

885
00:44:26,058 --> 00:44:28,169
squad member , but we're here today . 

886
00:44:28,169 --> 00:44:30,169
Uh because 75 years ago , President 

887
00:44:30,169 --> 00:44:32,229
Truman signed EO 

888
00:44:32,520 --> 00:44:36,500
9980 and 9981 . That's 

889
00:44:36,510 --> 00:44:38,750
why I'm in the position . I am to speak 

890
00:44:38,760 --> 00:44:41,560
today . But my story echoes through 

891
00:44:41,570 --> 00:44:45,330
time . One of those stories is James 

892
00:44:45,340 --> 00:44:47,760
Queen . He joined the army at the end 

893
00:44:47,770 --> 00:44:49,770
of World War two as a smoke jumper 

894
00:44:49,780 --> 00:44:51,750
jumper in the famed triple nickel 

895
00:44:51,760 --> 00:44:55,520
battalion in army . We say 

896
00:44:56,570 --> 00:44:58,681
lets make sure you get the right . Um 

897
00:44:59,129 --> 00:45:01,659
He led 65 men in the second ranger 

898
00:45:01,669 --> 00:45:03,502
company against the battalion of 

899
00:45:03,502 --> 00:45:07,110
Chinese soldiers at hill 581 . After 

900
00:45:07,120 --> 00:45:10,239
suffering multiple heavy losses , the 

901
00:45:10,250 --> 00:45:13,219
company rec consolidated and continued 

902
00:45:13,229 --> 00:45:16,110
up that hill as the unit advanced . 

903
00:45:16,120 --> 00:45:18,580
Lieutenant Queen continued to call 

904
00:45:18,590 --> 00:45:21,429
accurate walking artillery fire . This 

905
00:45:21,439 --> 00:45:23,495
combined with the deadly violence of 

906
00:45:23,495 --> 00:45:26,149
the ranger assault sent the Chinese 

907
00:45:26,159 --> 00:45:29,360
into a panic retreat . Despite losing 

908
00:45:29,370 --> 00:45:31,481
half the element , the ranger company 

909
00:45:31,481 --> 00:45:33,703
took that hill and Lieutenant Queen was 

910
00:45:33,709 --> 00:45:36,100
awarded the silver star and the purple 

911
00:45:36,110 --> 00:45:38,929
heart . By the time he had retired in 

912
00:45:38,939 --> 00:45:42,409
1965 major Queen was a jump master , a 

913
00:45:42,419 --> 00:45:45,459
pathfinder ranger , an expert 

914
00:45:45,469 --> 00:45:48,729
instrument and had made a combat jump 

915
00:45:48,739 --> 00:45:51,939
during operation Tomahawk . His service 

916
00:45:51,949 --> 00:45:54,260
alone would be a legacy worth living , 

917
00:45:54,419 --> 00:45:57,310
but that's not the only part of big Jim 

918
00:45:57,320 --> 00:46:00,070
Queens story after the army . He went 

919
00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:02,340
on to be in education . He was a 

920
00:46:02,350 --> 00:46:05,199
special education teacher , a guidance 

921
00:46:05,209 --> 00:46:07,419
counselor and finally an assistant 

922
00:46:07,429 --> 00:46:10,020
principal of HD Woodson High School 

923
00:46:10,159 --> 00:46:13,770
right here in DC . For an additional 20 

924
00:46:13,780 --> 00:46:15,969
years . He served the community by 

925
00:46:15,979 --> 00:46:18,899
educating today's police officers , 

926
00:46:18,909 --> 00:46:20,742
teachers , coaches , and elected 

927
00:46:20,742 --> 00:46:23,270
officials . That's still not all of his 

928
00:46:23,280 --> 00:46:25,699
story throughout his life . He was 

929
00:46:25,709 --> 00:46:29,270
active in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity , 

930
00:46:29,280 --> 00:46:31,224
the American Legion . He was a boy 

931
00:46:31,224 --> 00:46:34,899
scout troop leader and attended Mount 

932
00:46:34,909 --> 00:46:38,659
Mariah Baptist Church with his , 

933
00:46:38,669 --> 00:46:40,725
when his wife Phyllis passed away in 

934
00:46:40,725 --> 00:46:43,219
2000 , they were married for 52 years 

935
00:46:43,469 --> 00:46:46,169
and when he passed away in 2004 , he 

936
00:46:46,179 --> 00:46:48,068
was survived by four sons , three 

937
00:46:48,068 --> 00:46:50,330
daughters , 15 grandchildren and five 

938
00:46:50,340 --> 00:46:52,429
great grandchildren . And he and his 

939
00:46:52,439 --> 00:46:54,439
wife were laid to rest in Arlington 

940
00:46:54,439 --> 00:46:57,260
National Cemetery . There are a dozen 

941
00:46:57,270 --> 00:46:59,620
ways to remember James Queen 

942
00:47:00,350 --> 00:47:04,020
Paratrooper Ranger , teacher , father , 

943
00:47:04,030 --> 00:47:07,729
scout master , community leader as easy 

944
00:47:07,739 --> 00:47:10,729
as it would be to put black in front of 

945
00:47:10,739 --> 00:47:13,620
all of those things . Nothing in his 

946
00:47:13,629 --> 00:47:16,459
history suggests that's what he focused 

947
00:47:16,469 --> 00:47:20,419
on . I think about some 

948
00:47:20,429 --> 00:47:22,580
of the criticism that Major Queen may 

949
00:47:22,590 --> 00:47:25,719
have received and I can't imagine , you 

950
00:47:25,729 --> 00:47:27,951
know how hard it must have been for him 

951
00:47:27,951 --> 00:47:31,060
to exist during that time . Maybe 

952
00:47:32,310 --> 00:47:34,760
because after George Floyd was murdered . 

953
00:47:34,770 --> 00:47:38,699
Um I shared a social media video about 

954
00:47:38,709 --> 00:47:41,969
my story and about what it was like 

955
00:47:41,979 --> 00:47:45,770
growing up biracial in 1970 in 

956
00:47:45,780 --> 00:47:48,530
Alabama . I thought it was important 

957
00:47:48,540 --> 00:47:51,189
for our soldiers to know that there , 

958
00:47:51,199 --> 00:47:54,570
there is more that defines us than just 

959
00:47:54,580 --> 00:47:57,239
our uniform . And if we're going to 

960
00:47:57,250 --> 00:47:59,889
build lethal teams that are cohesive , 

961
00:48:00,790 --> 00:48:03,159
we have to trust the people around us 

962
00:48:04,729 --> 00:48:08,709
just enough to know all their stories a 

963
00:48:08,719 --> 00:48:11,830
few weeks ago in an effort to 

964
00:48:11,840 --> 00:48:14,510
illustrate that the army may be 

965
00:48:14,520 --> 00:48:17,780
focusing more on DE I than it is about 

966
00:48:17,790 --> 00:48:20,750
war fighting . A commentator pulled 

967
00:48:20,760 --> 00:48:22,982
that video from three years ago . About 

968
00:48:22,982 --> 00:48:26,439
me when I said , 

969
00:48:27,830 --> 00:48:31,139
um you know , my , my father was black 

970
00:48:31,149 --> 00:48:34,520
and my mom was white . He paused the 

971
00:48:34,530 --> 00:48:38,429
video and he said , so what it 

972
00:48:38,439 --> 00:48:42,439
doesn't matter , divide us , 

973
00:48:42,449 --> 00:48:45,939
please is what he said when I said , I 

974
00:48:45,949 --> 00:48:49,010
kind of struggled my life with . What's 

975
00:48:49,020 --> 00:48:51,500
my identity ? What , you know , what 

976
00:48:51,510 --> 00:48:53,919
are you ? You know how many times I've 

977
00:48:53,929 --> 00:48:56,770
heard that question ? What are you ? Um 

978
00:48:56,979 --> 00:48:58,959
He paused it again . He said , you 

979
00:48:58,969 --> 00:49:00,913
don't have to struggle with that . 

980
00:49:01,350 --> 00:49:02,461
That's your fault . 

981
00:49:06,129 --> 00:49:08,240
He said , what about the army stuff ? 

982
00:49:08,240 --> 00:49:10,240
You're the star major of the army . 

983
00:49:10,739 --> 00:49:13,580
You've heard my bio , I'm a soldier , a 

984
00:49:13,590 --> 00:49:16,570
leader , a husband , a father . I spent 

985
00:49:16,580 --> 00:49:18,909
five years in combat . I've heard two 

986
00:49:18,919 --> 00:49:22,100
Valorous wars um in combat , 

987
00:49:23,399 --> 00:49:25,750
those are the measures I want to be 

988
00:49:25,760 --> 00:49:28,520
judged by , but it doesn't change that 

989
00:49:28,530 --> 00:49:31,239
my race is a part of who I am , but 

990
00:49:31,250 --> 00:49:33,969
it's not all that I am . You could 

991
00:49:33,979 --> 00:49:36,939
reduce major queen by saying he was the 

992
00:49:36,949 --> 00:49:39,530
first black soldier inducted to the 

993
00:49:39,540 --> 00:49:42,709
Rider Hall of Fame . But I think about 

994
00:49:42,719 --> 00:49:44,886
all the things that he has done in his 

995
00:49:44,886 --> 00:49:47,389
life . We used to say all we see is 

996
00:49:47,399 --> 00:49:50,280
green . But if we're going to remain 

997
00:49:50,290 --> 00:49:52,909
the greatest army , the history in the 

998
00:49:52,919 --> 00:49:55,399
history of the world , we need to know 

999
00:49:55,540 --> 00:49:59,030
who's in our squad . We need to 

1000
00:49:59,040 --> 00:50:01,262
leverage their individual strengths and 

1001
00:50:01,262 --> 00:50:04,709
allow everyone to be all that they can 

1002
00:50:04,719 --> 00:50:08,000
be . I'm Michael Grinton . 

1003
00:50:08,709 --> 00:50:11,719
I was raised in Jasper Alabama by a 

1004
00:50:11,729 --> 00:50:14,469
single mother . She was the hardest 

1005
00:50:14,479 --> 00:50:16,646
working person I have ever known in my 

1006
00:50:16,646 --> 00:50:20,000
life and she instilled that in her kids . 

1007
00:50:20,840 --> 00:50:23,929
I'm a 36 year army veteran . I have 

1008
00:50:23,939 --> 00:50:26,939
spent every moment of that time being 

1009
00:50:26,949 --> 00:50:29,729
the best soldier leader I can be . 

1010
00:50:31,090 --> 00:50:34,419
I enjoy exercising and I'm always 

1011
00:50:34,429 --> 00:50:38,189
chasing a faster mile . I 

1012
00:50:38,199 --> 00:50:40,439
love movie nights on Friday with my 

1013
00:50:40,449 --> 00:50:42,671
wife and my daughters playing golf with 

1014
00:50:42,671 --> 00:50:45,399
my friends on Saturdays . At the end of 

1015
00:50:45,409 --> 00:50:49,070
the day , I only want to be remembered 

1016
00:50:49,239 --> 00:50:52,780
as a warrior , a father , a son , an 

1017
00:50:52,790 --> 00:50:56,149
American because of the executive order 

1018
00:50:56,159 --> 00:50:59,949
we celebrate . Thank you . 

1019
00:51:08,689 --> 00:51:11,459
And now it gives me great pride to 

1020
00:51:11,580 --> 00:51:14,100
introduce the , the , the chief of 

1021
00:51:14,110 --> 00:51:16,840
staff for the Air Force General Brown . 

1022
00:51:17,030 --> 00:51:20,830
We kind of first met on TV when General 

1023
00:51:20,840 --> 00:51:23,149
Brown and I were a part of the same CBS 

1024
00:51:23,159 --> 00:51:25,850
morning interview . And , and since 

1025
00:51:25,860 --> 00:51:28,082
then I guess we've been linked together 

1026
00:51:28,082 --> 00:51:30,082
forever . So , and that's maybe why 

1027
00:51:30,082 --> 00:51:32,138
we're sitting together and I've been 

1028
00:51:32,138 --> 00:51:34,360
pasted right in between , but he's also 

1029
00:51:34,360 --> 00:51:36,582
on May 25th , he's been announced to be 

1030
00:51:36,582 --> 00:51:38,693
the next chairman of the joint chiefs 

1031
00:51:38,693 --> 00:51:40,971
and the highest ranking officer in the , 

1032
00:51:40,971 --> 00:51:43,193
in the military . And it's my welcome , 

1033
00:51:43,193 --> 00:51:45,600
my honor to welcome General Brown , sir . 

1034
00:51:45,610 --> 00:51:46,610
Thank you . 

1035
00:51:53,090 --> 00:51:55,860
Well , good morning . Uh 

1036
00:51:57,100 --> 00:51:59,211
There's a Greek Proverb which I think 

1037
00:51:59,211 --> 00:52:01,378
is somewhat appropriate for today that 

1038
00:52:01,378 --> 00:52:03,378
I put into my remarks . Uh , having 

1039
00:52:03,378 --> 00:52:05,322
watched the audience out here wave 

1040
00:52:05,322 --> 00:52:07,850
their programs . It says a , a society 

1041
00:52:07,860 --> 00:52:10,000
grows great when all man plant trees 

1042
00:52:10,300 --> 00:52:12,639
and whose shade they will never sit 

1043
00:52:13,659 --> 00:52:15,820
today , we enjoy the shade made by 

1044
00:52:15,830 --> 00:52:17,774
efforts of so many who never had a 

1045
00:52:17,774 --> 00:52:19,552
chance to enjoy them , enjoy it 

1046
00:52:19,552 --> 00:52:21,774
themselves . So I want to thank you for 

1047
00:52:21,774 --> 00:52:23,830
the opportunity to appear before you 

1048
00:52:23,830 --> 00:52:25,941
today . I'm very honored to share the 

1049
00:52:25,941 --> 00:52:27,997
stage with these speakers , but also 

1050
00:52:27,997 --> 00:52:30,219
very honored to see our trailblazers to 

1051
00:52:30,219 --> 00:52:32,330
ski , the Monte Point Marines and all 

1052
00:52:32,330 --> 00:52:34,163
those who came before us and the 

1053
00:52:34,163 --> 00:52:36,163
shoulders that we stand on . I look 

1054
00:52:36,163 --> 00:52:37,941
forward to uh hearing the other 

1055
00:52:37,941 --> 00:52:40,163
speakers and listening to them . But so 

1056
00:52:40,163 --> 00:52:42,219
thank you so much for all of you for 

1057
00:52:42,219 --> 00:52:42,209
being here this morning , Harford . 

1058
00:52:42,520 --> 00:52:44,631
Thank you so much for representing uh 

1059
00:52:44,631 --> 00:52:46,687
the , the congressional black caucus 

1060
00:52:46,687 --> 00:52:48,687
and all the Congress and being here 

1061
00:52:48,687 --> 00:52:51,020
with us today . You know , 75 years ago , 

1062
00:52:51,020 --> 00:52:50,610
today , President Truman signed the 

1063
00:52:50,620 --> 00:52:53,300
historic executive order . 9981 is the 

1064
00:52:53,310 --> 00:52:55,421
one I focused on as a military member 

1065
00:52:55,989 --> 00:52:58,800
and it stated there shall be equality 

1066
00:52:58,810 --> 00:53:00,866
of treatment and opportunity for all 

1067
00:53:00,866 --> 00:53:03,189
persons in the armed forces without 

1068
00:53:03,199 --> 00:53:06,899
regard to race , color , religion , or 

1069
00:53:06,909 --> 00:53:09,260
national origin . And I'll tell you 

1070
00:53:09,270 --> 00:53:11,214
since the beginning of this year , 

1071
00:53:11,214 --> 00:53:13,159
knowing that this historic day was 

1072
00:53:13,159 --> 00:53:15,159
gonna come , I spent quite a bit of 

1073
00:53:15,159 --> 00:53:17,492
time reflecting on this executive order . 

1074
00:53:17,909 --> 00:53:20,131
I'd also like to note today is also the 

1075
00:53:20,131 --> 00:53:22,353
75th anniversary of the executive order 

1076
00:53:22,353 --> 00:53:24,576
of 9980 , prohibiting discrimination in 

1077
00:53:24,576 --> 00:53:26,798
federal employment . And this year also 

1078
00:53:26,798 --> 00:53:28,687
marks the 70th 75 years since the 

1079
00:53:28,687 --> 00:53:30,742
signing , the Women's Armed Services 

1080
00:53:30,742 --> 00:53:33,219
Integration Act . All three of these 

1081
00:53:33,229 --> 00:53:36,830
acts share a common goal , unifying 

1082
00:53:36,840 --> 00:53:39,169
thread . And when I think about each 

1083
00:53:39,179 --> 00:53:40,846
one word that comes to mind , 

1084
00:53:41,000 --> 00:53:44,300
opportunity , our military is the 

1085
00:53:44,310 --> 00:53:46,143
greatest in history and the most 

1086
00:53:46,143 --> 00:53:48,370
respected in the world . And because of 

1087
00:53:48,379 --> 00:53:50,546
the tree that President Truman planted 

1088
00:53:50,546 --> 00:53:53,360
in 1948 our nation is even stronger 

1089
00:53:53,370 --> 00:53:56,209
today than it was yesterday . He 

1090
00:53:56,219 --> 00:53:58,290
planted the seeds of a military that 

1091
00:53:58,300 --> 00:54:01,310
provides opportunity regardless of race , 

1092
00:54:01,320 --> 00:54:03,989
color , religion or national origin . 

1093
00:54:05,159 --> 00:54:07,290
In the shade of this tree . You are 

1094
00:54:07,300 --> 00:54:09,522
judged solely by your accomplishments . 

1095
00:54:09,969 --> 00:54:12,025
Here being the best qualified is the 

1096
00:54:12,025 --> 00:54:15,020
one standard by which you ascend . This 

1097
00:54:15,030 --> 00:54:16,919
is our promise to every uniformed 

1098
00:54:16,919 --> 00:54:19,141
member and every dod civilian committed 

1099
00:54:19,141 --> 00:54:21,197
to the mission to support and defend 

1100
00:54:21,197 --> 00:54:23,419
the Constitution of the United States . 

1101
00:54:23,429 --> 00:54:25,485
Be the shade of these branches . You 

1102
00:54:25,485 --> 00:54:27,096
will never be advantaged are 

1103
00:54:27,096 --> 00:54:28,762
disadvantaged because of your 

1104
00:54:28,762 --> 00:54:31,060
background , United States Armed Forces 

1105
00:54:31,070 --> 00:54:33,126
and our department of Defense remain 

1106
00:54:33,126 --> 00:54:35,292
the best in the world because the only 

1107
00:54:35,292 --> 00:54:37,570
mention of these lenses , race , color , 

1108
00:54:37,689 --> 00:54:41,030
religion or national origin is to 

1109
00:54:41,040 --> 00:54:43,262
express that opportunity not be impeded 

1110
00:54:44,590 --> 00:54:46,534
with this great gift comes , great 

1111
00:54:46,534 --> 00:54:49,409
responsibility was built upon the 

1112
00:54:49,419 --> 00:54:51,580
legacy that we've been given and make 

1113
00:54:51,590 --> 00:54:54,870
full use of all it has to offer . You 

1114
00:54:54,879 --> 00:54:57,520
must be leaders , coaches , mentors to 

1115
00:54:57,530 --> 00:54:59,697
every member of our team and give them 

1116
00:54:59,699 --> 00:55:01,921
all the opportunity to reach their full 

1117
00:55:01,921 --> 00:55:04,510
potential . Anything less is a waste of 

1118
00:55:04,520 --> 00:55:07,020
this gift . Executive orders 

1119
00:55:07,030 --> 00:55:09,659
99819980 , and the Women's Armed 

1120
00:55:09,669 --> 00:55:12,459
Service Integration Act , former Grover 

1121
00:55:12,469 --> 00:55:15,370
Trees and in the shade of this growth , 

1122
00:55:15,739 --> 00:55:17,739
all are provided for opportunity no 

1123
00:55:17,739 --> 00:55:19,969
matter their background and the best 

1124
00:55:19,979 --> 00:55:22,860
qualified can raise to the next level . 

1125
00:55:24,120 --> 00:55:26,231
The trees that President Truman plant 

1126
00:55:26,231 --> 00:55:28,290
with his signature in 1948 or not , 

1127
00:55:28,389 --> 00:55:32,379
ours . We must nurture them , care 

1128
00:55:32,389 --> 00:55:34,222
for them and ensure every future 

1129
00:55:34,222 --> 00:55:36,659
American may enjoy their shave . We 

1130
00:55:36,669 --> 00:55:38,669
must inspire the next generation of 

1131
00:55:38,669 --> 00:55:41,330
leaders . Our example of leadership can 

1132
00:55:41,340 --> 00:55:43,290
plant the next tree for the next 

1133
00:55:43,300 --> 00:55:45,820
generation of leaders . I thank all of 

1134
00:55:45,830 --> 00:55:47,886
you for your extraordinary efforts , 

1135
00:55:47,886 --> 00:55:50,108
for the amazing things you do every day 

1136
00:55:50,139 --> 00:55:52,306
and the things you will continue to do 

1137
00:55:52,306 --> 00:55:54,417
and helping to keep these trees alive 

1138
00:55:54,417 --> 00:55:57,020
today and for the next 25 years . Thank 

1139
00:55:57,030 --> 00:55:59,141
you for the opportunity to spend time 

1140
00:55:59,141 --> 00:55:58,659
with you today . 

1141
00:56:05,729 --> 00:56:07,840
I'm now uh pleased to introduce Major 

1142
00:56:07,840 --> 00:56:09,896
West Clark who read a statement from 

1143
00:56:09,896 --> 00:56:11,618
our Secretary of Defense , the 

1144
00:56:11,618 --> 00:56:13,729
honorable Lloyd J . Ausin , the third 

1145
00:56:13,729 --> 00:56:15,840
Secretary of Defense Austin served in 

1146
00:56:15,840 --> 00:56:17,951
the US Army for 41 years and over the 

1147
00:56:17,951 --> 00:56:20,118
past two years , he served as our 28th 

1148
00:56:20,118 --> 00:56:22,310
Secretary of Defense , Major Clark 

1149
00:56:22,320 --> 00:56:24,153
worked on immediate staff of the 

1150
00:56:24,153 --> 00:56:26,209
Secretary of Defense before assuming 

1151
00:56:26,209 --> 00:56:28,431
his current role as a strategic planner 

1152
00:56:28,431 --> 00:56:30,598
to the Secretary Army . Please welcome 

1153
00:56:30,598 --> 00:56:30,360
Major West Clark . 

1154
00:56:42,729 --> 00:56:44,951
Ladies and gentlemen , on behalf of the 

1155
00:56:44,951 --> 00:56:47,850
Secretary Austin 75 years ago today , 

1156
00:56:47,860 --> 00:56:49,471
President Truman ordered the 

1157
00:56:49,471 --> 00:56:52,050
desegregation of us armed forces and a 

1158
00:56:52,060 --> 00:56:53,893
civilian workforce across the US 

1159
00:56:53,893 --> 00:56:56,239
government . That historic step made 

1160
00:56:56,250 --> 00:56:58,530
the US military stronger and made 

1161
00:56:58,540 --> 00:57:01,399
America better for far too much of our 

1162
00:57:01,409 --> 00:57:03,520
nation's history . Service members of 

1163
00:57:03,520 --> 00:57:05,687
color who fought to defend our country 

1164
00:57:05,687 --> 00:57:07,631
were forced to serve in segregated 

1165
00:57:07,631 --> 00:57:09,830
units . Black troops were denied the 

1166
00:57:09,840 --> 00:57:12,007
very rights that they fought to defend 

1167
00:57:12,449 --> 00:57:14,399
despite this bitter heritage , 

1168
00:57:14,409 --> 00:57:16,409
segregated units demonstrated their 

1169
00:57:16,409 --> 00:57:19,810
skill and metal war after war during 

1170
00:57:19,820 --> 00:57:22,050
World War II alone , more than 1 

1171
00:57:22,060 --> 00:57:24,570
million black Americans served bravely 

1172
00:57:24,580 --> 00:57:27,770
to defeat fascism after the defeat of 

1173
00:57:27,780 --> 00:57:29,558
Nazi Germany in world war two , 

1174
00:57:29,709 --> 00:57:32,340
President Truman rightly declared the 

1175
00:57:32,350 --> 00:57:34,572
only limit to an American's achievement 

1176
00:57:34,572 --> 00:57:37,340
should be his ability , his industry 

1177
00:57:37,419 --> 00:57:40,729
and his character . On July 26th , 

1178
00:57:40,739 --> 00:57:43,590
1948 President Truman issued two 

1179
00:57:43,600 --> 00:57:45,889
executive orders to enshrine that 

1180
00:57:45,899 --> 00:57:48,209
deeply American principle , mandating 

1181
00:57:49,000 --> 00:57:51,229
equality of treatment and opportunity 

1182
00:57:51,239 --> 00:57:53,399
for all persons in the armed services 

1183
00:57:53,409 --> 00:57:56,459
without regard to race , color , 

1184
00:57:56,600 --> 00:57:59,830
religion , or national origin . The end 

1185
00:57:59,840 --> 00:58:01,507
of segregation throughout the 

1186
00:58:01,507 --> 00:58:03,673
Department of Defense was a major step 

1187
00:58:03,673 --> 00:58:05,896
towards fulfilling Americans , founding 

1188
00:58:05,896 --> 00:58:08,062
promises of liberty and equality under 

1189
00:58:08,062 --> 00:58:10,250
law . Since then , our extraordinary 

1190
00:58:10,260 --> 00:58:12,330
military and our dedicated civilian 

1191
00:58:12,340 --> 00:58:14,500
workforce have welcomed qualified 

1192
00:58:14,510 --> 00:58:17,669
patriots from all racial backgrounds to 

1193
00:58:17,679 --> 00:58:20,020
defend our country and serve alongside 

1194
00:58:20,030 --> 00:58:23,330
one another today . Some 

1195
00:58:23,340 --> 00:58:26,300
44% of our active duty , all volunteer 

1196
00:58:26,310 --> 00:58:29,979
force are Americans of color . The US 

1197
00:58:29,989 --> 00:58:32,100
military is the finest fighting force 

1198
00:58:32,100 --> 00:58:34,100
on earth . Because of our strategic 

1199
00:58:34,100 --> 00:58:36,370
advantages , we can draw on the talents 

1200
00:58:36,379 --> 00:58:38,268
and strength of skilled and brave 

1201
00:58:38,268 --> 00:58:41,560
Americans of every color , creed and 

1202
00:58:41,570 --> 00:58:44,159
background . As we reflect on the 

1203
00:58:44,169 --> 00:58:46,225
tremendous progress that our country 

1204
00:58:46,225 --> 00:58:49,189
has made over the past 75 years , we 

1205
00:58:49,199 --> 00:58:51,239
recommit ourselves to continue the 

1206
00:58:51,250 --> 00:58:53,919
noble work of all those who broke down 

1207
00:58:53,929 --> 00:58:56,909
barriers , fought prejudice and worked 

1208
00:58:56,919 --> 00:58:59,030
to ensure America's purest military 

1209
00:58:59,360 --> 00:59:01,659
embodies the democratic ideals that is 

1210
00:59:01,669 --> 00:59:05,010
so proudly defenses . I now have the 

1211
00:59:05,020 --> 00:59:06,687
distinct honor to introduce a 

1212
00:59:06,687 --> 00:59:08,631
Trailblazer in her own right . The 

1213
00:59:08,631 --> 00:59:10,830
honorable Kathleen Hicks who served in 

1214
00:59:10,840 --> 00:59:13,062
the Department of Defense for more than 

1215
00:59:13,062 --> 00:59:15,290
20 years . And currently our deputy 

1216
00:59:15,310 --> 00:59:17,939
secretary of Defense madam secretary , 

1217
00:59:17,949 --> 00:59:19,338
the floor is now yours . 

1218
00:59:25,209 --> 00:59:27,320
All right , good morning . And let me 

1219
00:59:27,320 --> 00:59:29,679
pass along my thanks as well to uh not 

1220
00:59:29,689 --> 00:59:31,911
only everyone who put this together and 

1221
00:59:31,911 --> 00:59:34,133
the great speakers that we've had , but 

1222
00:59:34,133 --> 00:59:36,245
also all of you who came out today to 

1223
00:59:36,245 --> 00:59:38,300
commemorate . Thank you for spending 

1224
00:59:38,300 --> 00:59:41,000
the time with us since the forming of 

1225
00:59:41,010 --> 00:59:42,899
this nation , service members and 

1226
00:59:42,899 --> 00:59:44,899
civilians of all races , colors and 

1227
00:59:44,899 --> 00:59:47,050
creeds have advanced and defended our 

1228
00:59:47,060 --> 00:59:50,040
freedoms here at home and abroad . And 

1229
00:59:50,050 --> 00:59:51,994
they've demonstrated extraordinary 

1230
00:59:51,994 --> 00:59:54,310
bravery and expertise during times of 

1231
00:59:54,320 --> 00:59:57,949
conflict and peace ending segregation 

1232
00:59:57,959 --> 00:59:59,959
in the armed forces and the federal 

1233
00:59:59,959 --> 01:00:03,110
workforce were historic steps for the 

1234
01:00:03,120 --> 01:00:05,009
Department of Defense . President 

1235
01:00:05,009 --> 01:00:07,120
Truman's Executive Orders created the 

1236
01:00:07,120 --> 01:00:09,129
opportunity to grow the largest and 

1237
01:00:09,139 --> 01:00:12,050
most diverse military and civilian 

1238
01:00:12,060 --> 01:00:15,300
workforce in the world . Since then , 

1239
01:00:15,310 --> 01:00:17,379
service members of color have risen 

1240
01:00:17,389 --> 01:00:19,111
through the ranks , commanding 

1241
01:00:19,111 --> 01:00:21,222
destroyer squadrons and submarines at 

1242
01:00:21,222 --> 01:00:23,389
sea , launching to space and returning 

1243
01:00:23,389 --> 01:00:25,679
back home again , breaking the glass 

1244
01:00:25,689 --> 01:00:27,909
ceiling and leading as four star 

1245
01:00:27,919 --> 01:00:30,520
generals and admirals and representing 

1246
01:00:30,530 --> 01:00:32,879
the United States of America overseas . 

1247
01:00:33,209 --> 01:00:35,949
No one better personifies this progress 

1248
01:00:35,959 --> 01:00:38,149
than Secretary Austin and I'm grateful 

1249
01:00:38,159 --> 01:00:40,159
we were able to hear his remarks on 

1250
01:00:40,159 --> 01:00:43,280
this important day . President Truman's 

1251
01:00:43,290 --> 01:00:45,820
actions also created progress . Well , 

1252
01:00:45,830 --> 01:00:49,550
beyond this department , any legal or 

1253
01:00:49,560 --> 01:00:52,209
moral justification for segregation 

1254
01:00:52,250 --> 01:00:54,570
crumbled in the wake of it in the 

1255
01:00:54,580 --> 01:00:57,459
decades that followed segregation in 

1256
01:00:57,469 --> 01:00:59,636
the nation's public schools and public 

1257
01:00:59,636 --> 01:01:02,300
spaces also came to an end . These 

1258
01:01:02,310 --> 01:01:04,770
decisions moved the entire nation 

1259
01:01:04,780 --> 01:01:06,629
closer to the promise of racial 

1260
01:01:06,639 --> 01:01:09,540
equality . But there is more work to 

1261
01:01:09,550 --> 01:01:11,217
advance this progress that we 

1262
01:01:11,217 --> 01:01:14,280
rightfully celebrate today . That's why 

1263
01:01:14,290 --> 01:01:16,457
the department is proudly carrying the 

1264
01:01:16,457 --> 01:01:18,760
torture freedom handed down to it from 

1265
01:01:18,770 --> 01:01:21,850
prior generations by building the best 

1266
01:01:21,860 --> 01:01:23,889
all volunteer fighting force in the 

1267
01:01:23,899 --> 01:01:26,790
world by recruiting , training and 

1268
01:01:26,800 --> 01:01:29,199
retaining a civilian workforce that 

1269
01:01:29,209 --> 01:01:31,320
reflects all the talents this country 

1270
01:01:31,320 --> 01:01:33,570
has to offer and by expanding 

1271
01:01:33,580 --> 01:01:36,780
opportunity so that aspiring soldiers , 

1272
01:01:36,790 --> 01:01:39,439
sailors and marines , airmen and 

1273
01:01:39,449 --> 01:01:42,370
guardians , engineers and scientists , 

1274
01:01:42,379 --> 01:01:44,370
policy analysts , and financial 

1275
01:01:44,379 --> 01:01:47,159
managers , and all those in between who 

1276
01:01:47,169 --> 01:01:50,010
wish to serve this nation can pursue 

1277
01:01:50,020 --> 01:01:52,080
their dream without barriers and 

1278
01:01:52,090 --> 01:01:54,929
without limits . Thank you once again 

1279
01:01:54,939 --> 01:01:57,209
to our speakers and please join me in 

1280
01:01:57,219 --> 01:01:59,163
one more round of applause for our 

1281
01:01:59,163 --> 01:02:01,489
distinguished guests who fought so hard 

1282
01:02:01,500 --> 01:02:04,229
for so long to advance the causes of 

1283
01:02:04,239 --> 01:02:06,030
justice , dignity and freedom . 

1284
01:02:30,209 --> 01:02:32,376
Now , we will have a musical selection 

1285
01:02:32,376 --> 01:02:34,431
by the United States army band brass 

1286
01:02:34,431 --> 01:02:35,431
quintet . 

1287
01:02:51,850 --> 01:02:55,699
We leave tomorrow to 

1288
01:02:57,129 --> 01:03:01,030
Yeah . And I had to start with 

1289
01:03:01,040 --> 01:03:04,689
just my family by my side . I 

1290
01:03:04,800 --> 01:03:08,179
thank my luck star to be 

1291
01:03:08,189 --> 01:03:11,870
living here today because the flag 

1292
01:03:11,879 --> 01:03:14,979
still stands for freedom and they can 

1293
01:03:14,989 --> 01:03:18,270
take mhm 

1294
01:03:20,689 --> 01:03:24,199
I'm proud to be an American . We at 

1295
01:03:24,209 --> 01:03:27,800
least on one free and I , I 

1296
01:03:27,810 --> 01:03:31,500
forget the ones who died who gave that 

1297
01:03:31,510 --> 01:03:35,340
right to me . And I gladly stand up 

1298
01:03:35,350 --> 01:03:39,350
next to you and defend her still today 

1299
01:03:39,840 --> 01:03:42,729
cause there ain't no doubt I love this 

1300
01:03:42,739 --> 01:03:46,340
life and God bless the 

1301
01:03:59,540 --> 01:04:03,300
from the lakes of Minnesota to the 

1302
01:04:03,310 --> 01:04:07,050
hills of Tennessee , across the 

1303
01:04:07,060 --> 01:04:10,820
plains of Texas . From sea to shining 

1304
01:04:10,830 --> 01:04:14,409
sea , from Detroit down to 

1305
01:04:14,419 --> 01:04:17,300
Houston and in New York to 

1306
01:04:17,310 --> 01:04:20,889
LA . Yeah , there's pride in every 

1307
01:04:20,899 --> 01:04:24,010
American heart and it's time we stand 

1308
01:04:24,020 --> 01:04:25,020
and say , 

1309
01:04:28,699 --> 01:04:32,169
but I'm proud to be an American where 

1310
01:04:32,179 --> 01:04:36,010
at least I know I'm free . I won't 

1311
01:04:36,020 --> 01:04:39,439
forget the ones who died who gave that 

1312
01:04:39,449 --> 01:04:42,280
right to me . And I gladly stand 

1313
01:04:43,500 --> 01:04:46,389
next to you and defend her still 

1314
01:04:46,399 --> 01:04:49,949
today cause there ain't no doubt I 

1315
01:04:49,959 --> 01:04:53,850
love this a lot and God bless 

1316
01:04:53,860 --> 01:04:55,010
the USA 

1317
01:05:00,790 --> 01:05:01,790
bye 

1318
01:05:13,899 --> 01:05:17,580
that next to you and 

1319
01:05:17,590 --> 01:05:20,939
defend her still today cause there 

1320
01:05:20,949 --> 01:05:23,760
ain't no doubt . I love his life . 

1321
01:05:28,760 --> 01:05:29,260
I saw . 

1322
01:05:43,860 --> 01:05:46,639
Wow , that was amazing . Thank you to 

1323
01:05:46,649 --> 01:05:49,060
all of our service speakers for those 

1324
01:05:49,070 --> 01:05:52,050
meaningful messages , messages of 

1325
01:05:52,060 --> 01:05:55,820
bravery , courage , resilience , 

1326
01:05:55,830 --> 01:05:58,520
personal stories , and other accounts 

1327
01:05:58,530 --> 01:06:02,229
of segregation stories that continue to 

1328
01:06:02,239 --> 01:06:05,149
inform our leaders today and into the 

1329
01:06:05,159 --> 01:06:08,370
army band brad content , an exhibit of 

1330
01:06:08,379 --> 01:06:11,530
your time and talent . Thank you 

1331
01:06:18,919 --> 01:06:21,290
on behalf of the Department of Defense . 

1332
01:06:21,300 --> 01:06:23,489
Thank you all for attending today's 

1333
01:06:23,500 --> 01:06:26,429
ceremony Commemorating the 75th 

1334
01:06:26,439 --> 01:06:30,350
anniversary of Executive Orders 9980 

1335
01:06:30,360 --> 01:06:33,679
and 9981 and above all for your 

1336
01:06:33,689 --> 01:06:36,939
support of our National Defense . We 

1337
01:06:36,949 --> 01:06:39,280
are grateful to all of you all the 

1338
01:06:39,290 --> 01:06:41,679
individuals who served faithfully to 

1339
01:06:41,689 --> 01:06:43,820
promote the mission readiness to 

1340
01:06:43,830 --> 01:06:46,600
eradicate inequality , to eradicate 

1341
01:06:46,610 --> 01:06:50,219
discrimination . This concludes today's 

1342
01:06:50,229 --> 01:06:52,679
ceremony for those of you who are 

1343
01:06:52,689 --> 01:06:54,919
guests of the Department of Defense 

1344
01:06:54,929 --> 01:06:57,820
escorts with red badges are standing by 

1345
01:06:57,830 --> 01:07:00,300
to guide you as you exit the building . 

1346
01:07:01,239 --> 01:07:03,610
Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 

1347
01:07:03,620 --> 01:07:05,800
the departure of the official party .