African American History Month Observance 2006

1. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH IS CELEBRATED
EACH FEBRUARY TO AFFIRM, RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE RICH HERITAGE,
STRUGGLES, ACHIEVEMENTS, PROGRESS AND DIVERSITY OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS. DR. CARTER G. WOODSON, THE FOUNDER OF THE ASSOCIATION
FOR THE STUDY OF AFRO-AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY ESTABLISHED THE
"NEGRO HISTORY WEEK" IN 1926 AS A MECHANISM FOR EXPLORING THE
CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO SOCIETY. DR. WOODSON CHOSE
THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY TO CORRESPOND TO THE RESPECTIVE BIRTHDAYS
OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, A FORMER SLAVE AND NOTED ABOLITIONIST,
AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHO SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
DURING AMERICA'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN 1976, THE WEEK LONG
OBSERVANCE WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY
AND WAS CALLED "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" TO PROVIDE MORE TIME FOR
PROGRAMS, OBSERVANCES AND CELEBRATIONS.
2. THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE THEME, "REACHING OUT TO YOUTH: A
STRATEGY FOR EXCELLENCE", REMINDS US OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
CONTRIBUTE AS ROLE MODELS FOR THE YOUTH OF OUR NATION. AS WE
COMMEMORATE THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS
TO OUR NATION, WE ARE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THOSE WHO HAVE
SERVED PROUDLY AS UNITED STATES MARINES. THROUGHOUT HISTORY,
AFRICAN AMERICAN MARINES HAVE ESTABLISHED AN EXEMPLARY RECORD OF
SERVICE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE VITAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE NATION AND
THE CORPS. FROM THE MONTFORD POINT MARINES TO THE MEN AND WOMEN
WHO SERVE OUR CORPS TODAY, AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE CONTINUALLY
DISPLAYED THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LOYALTY, PROFESSIONALISM AND
ESPRIT DE CORPS, ADDING IMMENSELY TO THE LEGACY OF OUR CORPS.
THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN MARINES HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE
HERITAGE OF OUR CORPS, OUR COUNTRY AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY. FROM PRIVATES TO GENERALS, THE LEGACY OF OUR CORPS
WILL CONTINUE TO BE SHAPED IN PART BY DEDICATED AFRICAN AMERICANS
WHOSE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE, EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP, AND
PROFESSIONALISM SERVE AS WORTHY EXAMPLES FOR ALL TO RESPECT,
ADMIRE, AND EMULATE.
3. COMMANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RECOGNIZE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF
AFRICAN AMERICANS, MILITARY AND CIVILIAN. COMMANDERS ARE FURTHER
ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS AND PROMOTE PARTICIPATION IN
OBSERVANCE EVENTS BOTH ON BASE AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
COMMANDERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO DEVELOP LOCAL THEMES FOR USE AT THEIR
COMMANDS.