Lexington VA Medical Center

February is Black History Month

At the Crossroads of Freedom of Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington

The Emancipation Proclamation, decreed by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1st, 1863, declared slaves in all confederate states then at war with the Union "forever free" and made them eligible for paid military service in the Union Army. Although it did not end slavery in the nation, it did transform the character of the war. After the proclamation was made, every advance of Federal troops expanded the domain of freedom and black men were allowed to serve in the Union Army and Navy. By the end of the war almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for freedom.

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom took place on August 28th, 1963 in Washington D.C. More than 200,000 demonstrators took part in the walk. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, noting that the Emancipation Proclamation gave hope to black slaves. The following year Congress passed the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 as a concrete step towards fulfilling the promise of the Emancipation Proclamation.

"At Lexington VA Medical Center, we have the privilege of serving Veterans of every race, color, creed and nationality," says Martin Traxler, Acting Medical Center Director. "We recognize that we, together, created a great nation on the foundation of liberty for all. We value each individual's uniqueness and respect each individual's heritage. As we celebrate Black History Month in February, we honor the contributions of all African-Americans to the freedoms we cherish, the rights we revere, and the country we call home."

Written by Public Affairs