Latest News
07-21-09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009
CONTACT: Paul DeMiglio, Sr. Communications Manager
PHONE: (202) 621-5408 - office / (614) 329-6541 - cell
Truman Library, SLDN to Commemorate Anniversary
of Desegregation in Armed Forces
Scholars, Experts Discuss Challenges Then, Now With Discrimination in U.S. Military
Washington, D.C. - The Harry S. Truman Library and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) are partnering to present the Freedom to Serve Forum, which will honor the 61st anniversary of President Truman's signing of Executive Order 9981 that ended racial segregation in the armed forces. The forum will take place at the auditorium of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, July 27.
"In the 1940s President Truman demonstrated courage and leadership by desegregating the military so that all qualified Americans, regardless of their race, could serve their country with full equality," said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of SLDN. "Today's leaders can take encouragement from the example of President Truman, who, during an election year, put justice and equality under the law before political expediency."
A series of thought-provoking panels will explore the history and lessons learned of racial discrimination in the U.S. military. Panelists will also examine gender discrimination and the ban on openly gay service members, two remaining challenges of our 21st century fighting force.
Panel 1: The History of Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Military
Major General Vance Coleman, who was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery and served in the Korean War, will discuss his first-hand experience of serving in a segregated Army unit. Oliver Vincent Shields will also join the panel to share his experience of serving as an African American during World War II. Shields landed at Normandy Beach during D-Day and was selected as one of the 2500 African-American volunteers to serve in the 14th Armored Division (known as the "Liberators"). The panel will explore the core argument against desegregation - military efficiency and unit cohesion would be negatively impacted - and why President Truman chose to take such bold action in issuing an executive order.
Panel 2: The History of Women in the Armed Forces
Speakers will examine the expanding role of women in all branches of the armed forces, from the time of the American Revolution to the present. Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, who earned the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam and later served as Chief Nurse for the Washington State National Guard, was forced to leave the military when she became pregnant. Special attention will be paid to remaining challenges to full inclusion of women in the armed services. For example, women are still barred from serving in numerous positions including infantry, special forces, ground combat and others.
Panel 3: Diversity in Allied Nations' Armed Forces
Twenty-seven countries, including Great Britain and Israel, allow open service for gays and lesbians. In fact, the U.S. and Turkey are the only two original NATO countries that still have bans in place. Stuart O'Brien of the Royal Australian Navy and openly gay Israeli Army veteran Avner Even-Zohar will share the experiences of integrating gays, women and minorities in their nations' armed forces. O'Brien will also discuss working alongside U.S. service members during his 2006 tour in Iraq.
Panel 4: The State of Diversity in the U.S. Military - Remaining Challenges
Panelists will close the forum by examining how discrimination against racial minorities, women and gays continues to impact today's military. Arguments used in the 1940s to preserve racial segregation, for instance, are the same arguments being advanced by some today for keeping the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law on the books. Captain Joan Darrah, U.S. Navy (Ret.), who served as Community Manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, will explain how "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" undermines military readiness. Retired Navy Commander and SLDN Board Co-Chair Zoe Dunning will share her experience of serving as an openly gay member of the U.S. military for more than 13 years.
Available for Interviews:
MG Vance Coleman, USA (Ret.)
COL Margarethe Cammermeyer, USA (Ret.)
Navy CAPT Joan Darrah (Ret.)
Navy CDR Zoe Dunning (Ret.)
Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN Executive Director
Expected Speakers:
Special guests Clifton Truman Daniel (grandson of President Truman) and daughter Aimee Daniel (great-granddaughter of President Truman)
Juan Williams - NPR and Fox News commentator
To RSVP or to schedule an interview, contact SLDN Senior Communications Manager Paul DeMiglio at (202) 621-5408 (office), (614) 329-6541 (cell), or at pdemiglio@sldn.org.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A journalists' guide is available here.
Truman Library, SLDN to Commemorate Anniversary of Desegregation in Armed Forces
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009
CONTACT: Paul DeMiglio, Sr. Communications Manager
PHONE: (202) 621-5408 - office / (614) 329-6541 - cell
Truman Library, SLDN to Commemorate Anniversary
of Desegregation in Armed Forces
Scholars, Experts Discuss Challenges Then, Now With Discrimination in U.S. Military
Washington, D.C. - The Harry S. Truman Library and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) are partnering to present the Freedom to Serve Forum, which will honor the 61st anniversary of President Truman's signing of Executive Order 9981 that ended racial segregation in the armed forces. The forum will take place at the auditorium of the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Independence, Missouri from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday, July 27.
"In the 1940s President Truman demonstrated courage and leadership by desegregating the military so that all qualified Americans, regardless of their race, could serve their country with full equality," said Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of SLDN. "Today's leaders can take encouragement from the example of President Truman, who, during an election year, put justice and equality under the law before political expediency."
A series of thought-provoking panels will explore the history and lessons learned of racial discrimination in the U.S. military. Panelists will also examine gender discrimination and the ban on openly gay service members, two remaining challenges of our 21st century fighting force.
Panel 1: The History of Racial Discrimination in the U.S. Military
Major General Vance Coleman, who was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Field Artillery and served in the Korean War, will discuss his first-hand experience of serving in a segregated Army unit. Oliver Vincent Shields will also join the panel to share his experience of serving as an African American during World War II. Shields landed at Normandy Beach during D-Day and was selected as one of the 2500 African-American volunteers to serve in the 14th Armored Division (known as the "Liberators"). The panel will explore the core argument against desegregation - military efficiency and unit cohesion would be negatively impacted - and why President Truman chose to take such bold action in issuing an executive order.
Panel 2: The History of Women in the Armed Forces
Speakers will examine the expanding role of women in all branches of the armed forces, from the time of the American Revolution to the present. Colonel Margarethe Cammermeyer, who earned the Bronze Star for service in Vietnam and later served as Chief Nurse for the Washington State National Guard, was forced to leave the military when she became pregnant. Special attention will be paid to remaining challenges to full inclusion of women in the armed services. For example, women are still barred from serving in numerous positions including infantry, special forces, ground combat and others.
Panel 3: Diversity in Allied Nations' Armed Forces
Twenty-seven countries, including Great Britain and Israel, allow open service for gays and lesbians. In fact, the U.S. and Turkey are the only two original NATO countries that still have bans in place. Stuart O'Brien of the Royal Australian Navy and openly gay Israeli Army veteran Avner Even-Zohar will share the experiences of integrating gays, women and minorities in their nations' armed forces. O'Brien will also discuss working alongside U.S. service members during his 2006 tour in Iraq.
Panel 4: The State of Diversity in the U.S. Military - Remaining Challenges
Panelists will close the forum by examining how discrimination against racial minorities, women and gays continues to impact today's military. Arguments used in the 1940s to preserve racial segregation, for instance, are the same arguments being advanced by some today for keeping the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law on the books. Captain Joan Darrah, U.S. Navy (Ret.), who served as Community Manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel, will explain how "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" undermines military readiness. Retired Navy Commander and SLDN Board Co-Chair Zoe Dunning will share her experience of serving as an openly gay member of the U.S. military for more than 13 years.
Available for Interviews:
MG Vance Coleman, USA (Ret.)
COL Margarethe Cammermeyer, USA (Ret.)
Navy CAPT Joan Darrah (Ret.)
Navy CDR Zoe Dunning (Ret.)
Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN Executive Director
Expected Speakers:
Special guests Clifton Truman Daniel (grandson of President Truman) and daughter Aimee Daniel (great-granddaughter of President Truman)
Juan Williams - NPR and Fox News commentator
To RSVP or to schedule an interview, contact SLDN Senior Communications Manager Paul DeMiglio at (202) 621-5408 (office), (614) 329-6541 (cell), or at pdemiglio@sldn.org.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A journalists' guide is available here.
