Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Harley Sarmiento | 180226-N-NH199-0146 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 26, 2018) Master at Arms 3rd Class Bridget...... read more read more
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PACIFIC OCEAN – The diversity committee aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) held a Black History Month celebration for the crew, Feb. 26.
This year’s theme, set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, is “African-Americans in Times of War,” and was selected to commemorate the centennial celebration of the end of World War I. The program highlighted the struggles African-American Soldiers faced and overcame to allow the military to be as diverse as it is today.
“There was a time in our military when service members were not allowed to serve alongside one another due to the color of one’s skin. As a result, this segregation made it impossible for many to value the strengths each member brought to the fight, said Chief Hospital Corpsman Alvin Cotson, Mercy’s diversity committee coordinator. “I believe today’s celebration honors the sacrifices and resilience by those unsung heroes who worked endlessly to ensure our freedom to serve alongside shipmates from different ethnicities and cultures.”
The event included a presentation highlighting African-American war heroes, a duet of the “Redemption Song,” by Bob Marley, and an original poem written by Logistics Specialist 1st Class Andrew Grace, a member of the Mercy’s diversity committee.
“I’m glad African-American history month came in the beginning of our mission,” said Capt. Peter Roberts, commanding officer of Mercy. “Events like this bring us together as a diverse crew. It allows us to celebrate our individual diversities together. The performance was very enjoyable.”
The presentation concluded with the cutting of the cake; signaling to the Sailors the time to enjoy dessert while celebrating the history of the African-American war heroes who helped pave the way for current and future Sailors.
Mercy, along with Military Sealift Command expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4), are participating in Pacific Partnership 2018 (PP18), the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR) preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. PP18’s objective is to enhance regional coordination in areas such as medical readiness and preparedness for man-made and natural disasters.
Pacific Partnership 2018 consists of more than 500 U.S. military personnel stationed worldwide, working side-by-side with host nation counterparts to be better prepared for potential humanitarian aid and disaster response situations.
For more news on about USNS Mercy or PP18, visit the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/pages/PacificPartnership/
| Date Taken: | 02.26.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2018 05:05 |
| Story ID: | 267328 |
| Location: | PACIFIC OCEAN |
| Web Views: | 232 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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