R 311424Z JAN 12

ALCOAST 040/12
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
1. SHIPMATES, FEBRUARY 2012 MARKS THE 86TH ANNUAL OBSERVANCE OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH.  THIS MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
REFLECT ON AFRICAN AMERICAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COAST GUARD AND OUR
NATIONS HISTORY.  THE THEME FOR THIS YEARS OBSERVANCE IS "BLACK WOMEN
IN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY."
2. AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE SERVED IN THE COAST GUARD IN UNIFORM
SINCE 1945, WHEN OLIVIA HOOKER, D. WINIFRED BYRD, JULIA MOSELY,
YVONNE CUMBERBATCH, AND AILEEN COOKE ENTERED THE SPARS, THE WWII-ERA
WOMENS RESERVE.  THEY OVERCAME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND OPENED
DOORS FOR OTHERS TO SERVE AND FOLLOW IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS.  SINCE THEN,
AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION IN ENLISTED AND
OFFICER RANKS THROUGHOUT THE COAST GUARD, IN ALL SPECIALTIES.  THIS
MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT ON THOSE AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN
WHO SERVED IN THE PAST, SERVE TODAY, AND ARE PREPARING THE COAST
GUARD FOR THE FUTURE.
3. AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS THROUGHOUT
THE COAST GUARDS 220 YEAR HISTORY.  YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR
SERVICE BY VISITING THE COAST GUARD HISTORIANS WEB SITE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HISTORY/MINORITIESINDEX.ASP.
4. COAST GUARD UNITS AND COMMANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE TIME DURING
FEBRUARY TO RECOGNIZE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS THAT
AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND IN PARTICULAR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN, HAVE
MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE TO OUR SERVICE AND OUR NATION.
5. SEMPER PARATUS.
6. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.