Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) paid tribute to the history and culture of African-American and black service members during its 2017 Black History Month celebration, Feb. 3.

Sailors packed the ship's aft mess decks to listen to special songs, poetry readings, and to watch unique, African-inspired dances which all focused on this year's theme "Success Always Leaves Footprints."

"We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us," said guest speaker Capt. Craig Abraham, executive officer for Fleet Logistics Center. "They paved the way and faced struggles we will never have to endure."

Abraham talked to the audience about the Montford Point Marines and the adversity they endured after President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a directive in 1941 giving African Americans an opportunity to be recruited into the Marine Corps. Instead of attending traditional boot camps of Parris Island, South Carolina, and San Diego, they were segregated and experienced basic training at Montford Point -- a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

"It was basically swamp land," said Abraham. "Their shelters were tents and temporary facilities. No one expected the desegregation to last past the war."

In July 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, which required the desegregation of the military. After training nearly 20,000 African-American Marines, Montford Point was deactivated in 1949 and new black recruits were sent to Parris Island and Camp Pendleton.

Abraham likened the desegregation of the military services to today's military integration of transgender personnel, saying the qualities and characteristics the military needed are the same ones it needs today -- leadership, professionalism, dignity, and respect. These are the traits which will always see the Navy, the military, through change, he said.

Following Abraham's speech, there was a special dance performance which energized the audience and had Sailors tapping their toes and applauding loudly.

"The performance was wonderful, and I got to show how our ancestors may have expressed themselves," said Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Papa Tandoh, who was among the dancers. "It gave us an opportunity to show our culture to the crew."

The program closed with remarks from Abraham Lincoln's Executive Officer, Capt. Amy Bauernschmidt.

"In line with this year's theme, 'Success Always Leaves Footprints,' I want you to remember that success can mean different things to different people -- maybe it's a promotion or maybe it's passing a spot check," she said. "What you do every day matters, because someone is watching and you have the opportunity to leave a footprint -- an impression on someone."

Abraham Lincoln is in the final stages of a four-year refueling complex overhaul and will be redelivered back to the fleet in 2017.

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