The Department of Defense will recognize African American History Month during a ceremony today at 2 p.m. EST in the Pentagon Auditorium, Room 5A1070. Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Charles L. Cragin will host the program and the guest speaker will be Deputy Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command Maj. Gen. Clifford L. Stanley. The theme for National African American History Month 2001 is "Creating and Defining the African American Community: Family, Church, Politics and Culture."
A message from the Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld regarding the observance of African American History Month is available at http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Feb2001/d20010208aahm.pdf .