    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 132, 115th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Proclamation 9696 of January 31, 2018

    National African American History Month, 2018

    By the President of the United States of America

    A Proclamation

    This February, we celebrate National African American History Month to
    honor the significant contributions African Americans have made to our
    great Nation--contributions that stand as a testament to their resolve,
    resilience, and courage. Over the course of our Nation's history,
    African Americans have endured egregious discrimination and bigotry.
    They have, nevertheless, always been determined to contribute their
    earnest efforts to America's greatness.
    This annual observance is an opportunity to remember the challenges of
    our past, but also to honor countless African-American heroes who
    inspire us to shape our country's future. This year's theme, ``African
    Americans in Times of War,''; calls our attention to the heroic
    contributions of African Americans during our Nation's military
    conflicts, from the Revolutionary War to present-day operations.
    Throughout our history, members of the Armed Forces have fought to
    secure freedom and liberty for all, defending our country both on our
    shores and in foreign lands. African Americans have shouldered an
    enormous share of the burden of battle in every American military
    engagement, donning our Nation's military uniforms to answer the call of
    duty. For far too long, African Americans bravely fought and died in the
    name of freedom, while at the same time struggling to attain equality,
    respect, and the full privileges of citizenship. Because of their love
    of country, these heroes insisted on serving and defending America
    despite racial prejudice, unequal treatment, diminished opportunities,
    and segregation. Their valorous acts in the face of grave injustice
    revealed the true meaning of American patriotism--service before self.
    It was not until 1948 that President Harry S. Truman ordered
    desegregation of the military, providing ``equality of treatment and
    opportunity for all persons in the Armed Forces without regard to race,
    color, religion or national origin.''; It took another 5 years before
    the Secretary of Defense abolished the last segregated African-American
    military unit. These hard won victories for justice catalyzed other
    victories, as they cast a harsh light on aspects of our social and civic
    lives that remained segregated. Those who fought against and ended
    segregation in the military reminded the Nation of its obligation to the
    self-evident truth of equality written into the Declaration of
    Independence.

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    We remember soldiers like Sergeant Henry Johnson of the Harlem
    Hellfighters, the all-black National Guard unit that was among the first
    American forces to arrive in France during World War I. Johnson suffered
    21 wounds during front-line combat and received France's highest award
    for valor. To acknowledge his exceeding bravery, he was posthumously
    awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and a Purple Heart. We remember
    pilot Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., who commanded the famed Tuskegee Airmen
    and became the first African American General in the United States Air
    Force. We remember soldiers like Major Charity Adams Earley, who was
    commander of the only all-African American Women's Army Corps unit that
    served overseas during World War II. She was a trailblazer in her
    efforts to recruit more women to military service in spite of rampant
    racism and segregation.
    These and countless other African Americans triumphed over ignorance,
    oppression, and injustice to make indelible contributions, not only to
    our military history, but even more importantly to our American history.
    They are an integral part of our Nation's story. We are indebted to the
    individual and collective perseverance and patriotism of these
    outstanding men and women, as we are to all African Americans who have
    served, and continue to serve in the Armed Forces of this great Nation.
    NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of
    America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
    the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2018 as
    National African American History Month. I call upon public officials,
    educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to
    observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
    activities.
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of
    January, in the year of our Lord two thousand eighteen, and of the
    Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-
    second.
    DONALD J. TRUMP