NAS Jax holds Black History Month observance

Woodson was a famous black author and historian who in 1926, founded Negro History Week. He chose the second week of February because Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a leading abolitionist, and President Abraham Lincoln, who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, both celebrated their birthdays the second week of February. In 1976, 200 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it was changed to a month long celebration.

This month marks the 82nd annual observance of Black History Month in the United States.

"Although we commemorate and honor the contributions of those who have gone before us, this month also inspires us to increase our knowledge and awareness of African-American History. African-American History is, and always has been a vital part of American society," said NAS Jax Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr.

Sailors and Department of Defense employees at NAS Jacksonville gather for a luncheon in celebration of Black History Month. This year's celebration honored Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Muliticulturalism.

Scorby shared his thoughts on Woodson and famous African-American sailors who served the Navy, as well as a few historical pioneers who were stationed at NAS Jacksonville.

"As we celebrate this year's African-American History Month, who can forget that on the very soil where we stand today, was a major event in the history of African-Americans," said Scorby. "Ensign Jesse Brown, the first black man to be designated a

naval aviator, earned his wings of gold at a graduation ceremony held aboard this base Oct. 21, 1948. On Dec. 4, 1950, while operating from the aircraft carrier USS Leyete (CV-32), in support of the Korean War, Ensign Brown was shot down and killed.

In 1973, the Navy commissioned the war ship USS Jesse L. Brown in his honor. It was the first ship ever to be named after an African-American officer and we recently unveiled a display in his honor in Building 1."

IT2 Sherri Hill, right, presents AMS1 Faye Lewis a picture she won from a drawing during the Black History Month Luncheon.

The celebration continued with inspirational words from this year's guest speaker The Honorable Judge Angela Cox. Cox paid tribute to Woodson for inspiring and uplifting his community and added a few inspirational moments she's experienced throughout her life.

"If you don't know what was accomplished before you, you won't be inspired to go anywhere or do anything," said Cox quoting Woodson.

"Dr. Woodson believed that blacks should know their past in order to participate intelligently in the affairs of our country. He strongly believed that black history is a firm foundation for young black Americans to build on to become productive citizens of our society," Cox continued.

The luncheon also included performances from the Florida Masonic Men's Choir, comprised of veteran and reserve Sailors, and poetry readings by Katrina Brockman. The choir delighted to the crowd with their rendition of "NAS Jax Get On Board," as Brockman poised a question to the crowd of whether or not they were their brother's keepers.

Meosha Lymon shows CS2 Nadine Gonzalez and TM1 Felicia Marcano a family heirloom, a Bible dating back to 1893, that was once padlocked from the family's former slave owners to keep the slaves from learning how to read. The Bible was on loan from CSC Mathew Way.

At the end of the luncheon, Scorby presented plaques to the guest speaker and performers. He also thanked the Multicultural Awareness Committee for their hard work and dedication to yet another successful program.

"I thought the guest speaker was tremendous, she was inspirational and very uplifting," said LN1 Wanda Miller from Commander, Navy Region Southeast. "The program on a whole was very nice."