FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Every year in February, we commemorate the contributions and sacrifices of African-Americans to the nation and our Army. I'm one of 388 Army Generals and one of 38 Black Army Generals. I'm always humbled when I reflect upon my life because I know that if it were not for those who served before me like the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen, I would not be where I am today. These great Americans all fought wars -- some abroad and some right here at home.

They fought in foreign countries against an enemy of the United States and against another type of enemy -- inequality, injustice and racism -- right here at home.

Why is this significant? Because, regardless of your race, color or creed, a whole lot of people have paved the way for us and for America. So why do we observe Black History Month?

Historically, the observance began in 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History" initiated "Negro History Week" during the second week of February, which was the birth week of the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Education was his number-one goal. In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month in February, which was the birth month of Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln, both of whom helped free slaves.

But that is a historical answer. Why have we continued to observe Black History Month every year since?

I believe the answer to that question has parts. First, Black History is American History: It began with the Continental Army at Lexington and Concord, when Crispus Attucks, a black man, was the first to die in the American Colonies' quest for independence. His death marked the beginning of the American Revolution as he was the first to die during the Boston Massacre of March 1770. From that time forward, throughout the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Indian Wars in the West, the Civil War, and throughout World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Afghanistan, two Gulf Wars and now the War on Terrorism, African Americans fought and died to preserve the American way of life.

Secondly, Black History is the story of the lives and contributions of a very unique ethnic group in our nation that is absent from most history classes and from elementary school, middle school, and high school textbooks. Most school books only talk about slavery and Martin Luther King, Jr. as the "civil rights movement."

They don't mention that Benjamin Banneker, an African American, helped design the capital in Washington; they don't talk about Madam Elizabeth Keckly, a former slave who became the personal dressmaker and confidante of Mary Todd Lincoln, the First Lady; they don't mention that Lewis Latimer, an African American, helped Alexander Graham Bell invent the telephone and invented the traffic light; they don't mention that Charles Drew, an African American discovered blood plasma and taught the world how to preserve and store blood, which today are our blood banks; they don't talk about Mary McLeod Bethune, co-founder of Bethune-Cookman University, an educator, minister, Civil Rights Activist, Entrepreneur, political lobbyist, and advisor to two U.S. Presidents; they don't mention that Percy Julian, an African American, developed the treatment for glaucoma and discovered cortisone.

Black History Month is our Nation's opportunity to celebrate the legacy and many contributions of African Americans toward the building and development of the best nation in the world.

Lastly, this month brings with it the seeds of our future; it's up to us to build on the accomplishments of the African American Heroes I mentioned earlier and so many others. Many of the African-Americans I mentioned started with much less than we did -- they were slaves or one generation removed and they changed the landscape of this nation forever. With so much more, we all can too.

Our annual Black History Month luncheon will commemorate African-Americans' contributions to this great nation. The luncheon is scheduled to take place 11:30 a.m., Feb. 19 at the Solomon Center; our guest speaker will be U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, South Carolina, 6th District. I hope you will join me as we observe Black History Month here at Fort Jackson where history starts every day of the year.

Victory Starts Here!

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