Photo By Staff Sgt. Melissa Parrish | Retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Myra Austin, the guest speaker of the Black History Month...... read more read more
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CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - It’s February, and for many Americans it is a time to celebrate Black History month. It is a month full of celebrations and education of the history and achievements of Black Americans.
Soldiers gathered in the dining facility at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Feb. 17, for a luncheon to honor the contributions made to the history of America.
Retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Myra Austin was the guest speaker for the luncheon. She recently retired from the U.S. Army with 28 years of service and climbed up the ranks to serve in every leadership position from team leader to command sergeant major. She is currently employed with Kellogg Brown and Root on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo.
“I am truly honored for the opportunity to speak on the many contributions of Black Americans in history,” said Austin as she began her speech.
On each table, where the Soldiers sat, was a slip of paper with a story of an American that made an impact in history. One of the papers revealed the story of Sgt. Henry Johnson, a member of the all-black 369th Army Infantry, who became a hero when he singlehandedly fought off a group of German soldiers with only a knife and a gun to rescue a wounded comrade.
“I stand here today in front of you because of the courageous actions of abolitionists like Fredrick Douglas and Sojourner Truth,” said Austin. “I also stand here today as a product of innovative geniuses like George Washington Carver and Madam C. J. Walker.”
As Austin told history through stories, everyone in the room was silent and attentive.
“Everyday people just like you and I helped to make changes throughout the past century,” said Austin. “By simply refusing to be confined within the perimeters of what others thought they should be. It was their relentless pursuit of equality, their ingenuity, their philosophical views and their willingness to sacrifice their lives not just for black people, but for the betterment of man kind.”
Austin asked the Soldiers to leave the luncheon with a renewed resolve to embrace programs like the one they were attending.
“I have personally participated in conversations with people from all walks of life discussing if ethnic observances should exist,” said Austin. “The only way we will continue to grow is to embrace our past, the good and the bad. We have to discuss it, not hide it, but then move on and leave it in the past. We get to discuss it through events like this one.”
The room erupted with applause as Austin ended her speech.
“We are the greatest nation on earth," said Austin. "Are we perfect? No, we aren’t, but we are still a family. America is not perfect. We have a past. Some of the things in our past we don’t like to talk about. In the end it is what defines us and develops us. I don’t use the term African American. I am an American of African decent. We are all Americans.”
| Date Taken: | 02.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.18.2015 06:10 |
| Story ID: | 154709 |
| Location: | CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ |
| Hometown: | MOBILE, ALABAMA, US |
| Web Views: | 329 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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