ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 091705Z FEB 00 ZYB MIN PSN 819224J26
 
FM SECNAV WASHINGTON DC//SN//
 
TO ALNAV
 
UNCLAS  //N01700//
ALNAV 008/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV//
 
SUBJ/NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH//
POC/MARGO SHORTER/693-0240//
 
RMKS/1.  THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY WILL MARK THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM.  ALTHOUGH THIS
OBSERVANCE WAS ESTABLISHED ONLY 74 YEARS AGO, AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE
MADE MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR GREAT NATION FOR THE LAST 300 YEARS
--SINCE ITS VERY BEGINNINGS. AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND AMERICAN
HISTORY ARE TRULY SYNONYMOUS.
 
2.  THE THEME FOR YEAR 2000, "HERITAGE HORIZON: THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
LEGACY AND CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY" IS PARTICULARLY BEFITTING.
IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY TRIBUTE TO A LEGACY OF COURAGEOUS
AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED WITH PRIDE AND DIGNITY
THROUGHOUT OUR NAVAL HISTORY.  GREAT LEADERS SUCH AS VADM SAMUEL
GRAVELY, THE NAVY'S FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN FLAG OFFICER, AND LTGEN
FRANK PETERSON, THE MARINE CORPS' FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GENERAL
OFFICER, ARE FOREVER THE TORCH BEARERS; THEIR SPIRIT AND
DETERMINATION ARE SHINING EXAMPLES FOR ALL.
 
3.  THE THEME ALSO RECOGNIZES THAT OUR CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
REST WITH THOSE WHO PROUDLY SERVE TODAY.  ARMED WITH OUR CORE VALUES
OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT, THIS GENERATION IS CHARGED WITH
PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE IDEALS OF EQUALITY AND FREEDOM THAT
THE HEROES OF OUR PAST FOUGHT SO HARD TO UPHOLD.  IT IS THEIR
FOOTSTEPS THAT WILL MARK THE PATH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
 
4.  THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY'S DIVERSITY IS AMONG OUR GREATEST
STRENGTHS AS WE ENTER THE 21ST CENTURY.  BUT WE MUST REAFFIRM OUR
COMMITMENT TO ENSURING THAT EVERY SAILOR, MARINE, AND CIVILIAN IN OUR
DEPARTMENT IS TREATED WITH RESPECT AND DIGNITY AND GIVEN EVERY
OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL TALENTS.
 
5.  AS WE RAISE OUR AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION DURING THIS SPECIAL
PERIOD OF OBSERVANCE, I ENCOURAGE THE WIDEST PARTICIPATION IN THE
EVENTS SPONSORED BY THE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY.  EACH
INSTALLATION IS ENCOURAGED TO CONDUCT PROGRAMS, CREATE EXHIBITS,
PUBLISH ITEMS OF INTEREST IN COMMAND BULLETINS, AND SOLICIT
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPATION IN APPROPRIATE OBSERVANCES OF THIS MONTH.
 
6.  FOR DIRECT ASSISTANCE AND MORE INFORMATION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN
HISTORY MONTH EVENTS, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY REPRESENTATIVES.
 
7.  RELEASED BY THE HONORABLE RICHARD DANZIG, SECRETARY OF THE
NAVY.//
 
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