[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