Page 2 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior March 2016

2 High Desert Warrior
March 4, 2016
Army Values
Celebrating African American History Month
Story and photos by
Gustavo Bahena
Public Affairs Office
The National Training
Center and Fort Irwin cel-
ebrated African American
History Month during a cer-
emony at Sandy Basin Com-
munity Center here, Feb. 3.
The event was coordi-
nated by Regimental Support
Squadron, 11th Armored
Cavalry Regiment and the
Equal Opportunity/Equal
Employment Opportunity
office. The event included a
video presentation, singing by
Soldiers, Soldiers performing
as famous African Americans,
a reading of a Maya Angelo
poem and cultural food sam-
pling.
Guest speaker for the
event was Obba Babatun-
dé -- an American actor of
stage and screen known for
his Emmy-nominated per-
formance in the television
movie “Miss Evers’ Boys,”
a NAACP Image Award-
nominated performance in
the TV movie introducing
Dorothy Dandridge, and a
Tony Award-nominated role
for his performance as C.C.
White in the original cast of
the 1981 Broadway musical
“Dreamgirls.” The actor/
producer is also an avid horse- generation,” Babatunde said
man and is a highly regarded
rider and trainer in the rodeo
circuit, including the annual
Bill Pickett Rodeo.
The commander of RSS,
Lt. Col. James Stephens,
spoke at the event and intro-
duced Babatundé. Stevens
explained the theme for this
year’s observance as ‘Hal-
lowed Ground’ -- which rec-
ognizes places of significance
in the epic battle for civil
rights and equality.
“Today we celebrate the
heritage of Americans of
African lineage and we hold
this observance to mark their
significance in the fabric of
our American life and his-
tory,” Stevens said.
Babatundé appreciated to a standard of excellence
servicemembers and leader- -- for your commitment to
ship in attendance by saying
he was honored to be there.
“I have come today to be
able to stand and commune
For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil
with those who would -- hav-
ing never met me -- be will-
ing to set forth to lay down
your life and limb for my
freedom,” he said.
Babatundé expressed the
importance of the individual
and of being part of a com-
munity.
“You are special. You’re
powerful. You’re dynamic
in what you do,” Babatundé
said. “Look around you at
one another. We’re a family.
We’re a family that’s part of
the human family -- are we
not? And without that, noth-
ing happens. We have to be
mindful of not segregating
ourselves from the human
family. Because when we do
that, we create a divide and
with that divide we can’t do
anything.”
Another message Baba-
tundé imparted was recogniz-
ing the connection of current
African American generations
to generations during slavery.
The significance and value of
those generations should not
be forgotten.
“I want these young men
and women [to] identify
that they come from some-
thing … they are those same
people in this generation as
those people were in that
in an interview prior to the
ceremony.
Babatundé also spoke
about identifying as part of
a world population. He said
we should “see ourselves as
citizens of the world, proud
Americans going forth to
represent the best of who we
are so the rest of the world
can identify that this is the
place that becomes a standard
bearer.”
He concluded by reiterat-
ing the impact that Soldiers
have on the country.
“I have to bring thanks
to you from those who you
may never meet, citizens
of America, who say thank
you for your commitment
making sure that we remain
safe against the ills and evils History Month ceremony. She serves with the National Training
that may await us,” Baba-
tundé said.
www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
WHO WE ARE
Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin
Commanding General
Command Sgt. Maj. Edison Rebuck
Post CSM
Obba Babatundé spoke at the African American History Month
celebration here, Feb. 3. He is an American actor of stage and screen Col. Scott Taylor
and an avid horseman, regarded highly as a rider and trainer in the Garrison Commander
rodeo circuit, including the annual Bill Pickett Rodeo. Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel O’Brien
Garrison CSM
Kenneth Drylie
Public Affairs Director
High Desert Warrior Staff
Gustavo Bahena, Editor
(760) 380-2452
Leslie Ozawa, Staff Writer/Photographer
(760) 380-3450
Jason Miller, Staff Writer/Photographer
(760) 380-3073
Agustin Rodriguez, Editorial Assistant
agustin.rodriguez1@us.army.mil
Aerotech News
Emma Uribe, Graphic Designer
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NEWSPAPER AWARDS
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Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware
Newspaper Competition — Tabloid category
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Newspaper Competition — Tabloid Category
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Spc. Stephanie Jones sang at the 2016 Fort Irwin African American
Center Protocol Office.