TO   NAVADMIN
     NAVADMIN @ ADDRESS LISTS @ AL NAVADMIN(UC)

INFO CNO CNO


RAAUZYUW RUERMFU2109 0241725-UUUU--RUCCBWF.
ZNR UUUUU ZUI RUENAAA2109 0241725
R 241725Z JAN 05 PSN 026000J08
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
ZEN/NAVADMIN @ ADDRESS LISTS @ AL NAVADMIN(UC)
INFO ZEN/CNO CNO
BT
UNCLAS
SUBJ: NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
PASS TO OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
UNCLAS //N05700//
NAVADMIN 010/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/-/JAN//
SUBJ/NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH//
POC/LT JEFF BURRELL/DIVERSITY OFFICE/PERS-00H/COMNAVPERSCOM
/TEL:(DSN) 882-3881//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  NAVY WILL RECOGNIZE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY
MONTH DURING FEBRUARY 2005 BY HONORING AND COMMEMORATING THE
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS.  THE DOD THEME FOR THIS
PAGE 02 RUERMFU2109 UNCLAS
YEAR'S OBSERVANCE IS "THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT," WHICH RECOGNIZES THE
ORGANIZATION STARTED BY DR. W.E.B. DUBOIS 100 YEARS AGO TO SECURE
CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL RIGHTS FOR AFRICAN-AMERICANS.
2. THE OBSERVANCE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE COURAGE, HEROISM, AND BRAVERY
OF OUR SAILORS IN THE HEAT OF COMBAT ON THE HIGH SEAS, AS WELL AS IN
THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION OF ALL SERVICE MEMBERS WHO PAVED THE
WAY FOR OVER 100 THOUSAND AFRICAN-AMERICANS SERVING WITH DISTINCTION
ON ACTIVE DUTY, IN THE RESERVES AND AS CIVILIANS.  ONE SUCH
INDIVIDUAL, VADM SAMUEL GRAVELY, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN OFFICER
TO ATTAIN FLAG RANK, PASSED AWAY IN 2004 AND WAS INTERRED AT
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETARY IN DECEMBER.  HIS CAREER SPANNED MORE
THAN THIRTY-FOUR YEARS AND INCLUDED 2 TOURS AS COMMANDING OFFICER
OF NAVAL VESSELS AND A TOUR AS COMMANDER, THIRD FLEET.  VADM GRAVELY
WAS A COMBAT VETERAN AND PIONEER.  HIS SELFLESS DEDICATION SERVES AS
AN INSPIRATION FOR ALL SAILORS.
3.  THE STRENGTH OF OUR 21ST CENTURY NAVY LIES IN THE CAPABILITY AND
COMMITMENT OF OUR SAILORS AND CIVILIANS WHO DRAW THEIR EXPERIENCE
FROM THE RICH DIVERSITY OF OUR NATION.  ALL COMMANDS ARE STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED TO CELEBRATE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH THROUGH
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, EXHIBITS, PUBLICATIONS AND PARTICIPATION IN
PAGE 03 RUERMFU2109 UNCLAS
MILITARY AND COMMUNITY EVENTS THAT RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF
AFRICAN-AMERICANS.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ON AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY
MONTH VISIT WWW.PERSNET.NAVY.MIL/PERS00H/OBSERVANCES.HTML.
6. RELEASED BY VADM G. L. HOEWING, N1.//
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