CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

'Black Veterans With Success'

New Pittsburgh Courier (PA) - 2/27/2015

Soldiers & Sailors 5th Annual AfricanAmerican Heritage Celebration

PITTSBURGH- Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum Trust Inc. hosted the Fifth Annual African-American Heritage Celebration on Feb. 7. This year's program was titled "Black Veterans With Successi Their History, Health and commitment to Excellence."

"Soldiers & Sailors recognizes the challenges faced by those who served in the military, regardless of their branch of service, gender or national origin, and the African-American Heritage Celebration allows us to emphasize the importance of African American contributions to the military and the affect war had on African American veterans," said President & CEO John F McCabe. "We want to present an open forum that focuses attention on providing information and resources to help address a variety of issues many veterans are facing, both home and abroad."

Soldiers & Sailors Historian and AAHGS award recipient John L. Ford Sr., moderated the panel discussion of speakers which included veterans from our Air Force and Army. They were:

Captain Darren Rogers, 171st Division, U.S. Air Force

Sergeant E-5, S.D.V. Richard D. Portis, U.S. Army

Colonel Edmund D. Effort, DDS (retired) U.S. Air Force

Also joining the group will be Ms. Heather Steel with the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Minority Veterans Program. She answered questions about VA health care and other specific military health related issues.

The 5th Annual AfricanAmerican Heritage Celebration began at 1 p.m. in the Gettysburg Room, which featured the exhibit "Slave to Soldier" showcasing the importance of the historical legacy of African American soldiers. Soldiers & Sailors Museum is open to the public with free admission during normal museum hours from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. All military and veterans were invited and encouraged to attend.

VETERAN SUPPORT - The people who came out to see the "Slave to Soldier" exhibit. (Photos by J.L. Martello)