Staff members at Training Support Center (TSC) Great Lakes celebrated Black History Month, coinciding with the month-long national observance, Feb 28.

This year, TSC Great Lakes celebrated those with a long and distinguished history in the United States military.

"This year's theme 'African Americans in Times of War' is significant because it mirrors the stories of many staff members at TSC Great Lakes," said Capt. Mark Meskimen, TSC Great Lakes commanding officer. "We should reflect on the history of the unique struggles, lack of opportunities, and civil rights battles of African Americans, and we need to have continuous hope for peace and equality for current and future Sailors here at TSC Great Lakes."

The guest speaker for the event was Darryl Holmes. Currently command pay and personnel administrator a Center for Surface Combat Systems Unit Great Lakes, Holmes is retired from the Army, where he served tours as both an equal opportunity advisor and an instructor at the former Race Relations Institute (now known as the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute).

"Since the inception of our nation, blacks have served," Holmes said. "In the past it was based on an as-needed basis. Every time blacks were needed, they were allowed to serve. With the exception of the Navy, once conflicts were over, exclusion policies were adopted. Despite that, blacks believed in the idea of our country's values written in our Constitution, although they rarely reaped the benefits of those values. But we continued to serve and excel in the military. It is because of those war heroes and those that served, and currently serve, to defend our country, that policies have advanced and past actions are still being corrected."

From the Battle of Lexington, to the Battle of Fallujah, to present-day, black service members have maintained this rich tradition and continue to serve in the United States armed forces with great valor and distinction.

2nd Lt. Emily Perez, a platoon leader, was killed while patrolling southern Iraq near Najaf in 2006 when a roadside bomb exploded under her Humvee.

Gen. Colin Powell made history by becoming the first black chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, the highest military position in the Department of Defense. Powell made history again when he became the first appointed black secretary of state.

Maj. Charity Adams served as the battalion commander of the only African American Women's Army Corps (WAC) unit to be deployed overseas during World War II.

"African Americans have defended our nation with loyalty, honor and patriotism in every time of war and peace," Meskimen said. "And during that time they had to fight another battle. Through their service, they helped to open our eyes to the immoral stance our country had on race."

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