Black History Month includes diverse celebration

  • Published
  • By Carol O'Maley
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
In honor of Black History Month, second-generation Missouri Congressman William Lacy Clay Jr. will be the featured speaker Feb. 27 during a luncheon from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Club Thunderbolt. His topic will address the month's theme, "From Slavery to Freedom."

Clay Jr. was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000, succeeding his father, the Honorable Bill Clay, who served for 32 years and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Congressman Clay serves on the Financial Services Committee, which has broad jurisdiction over banking, insurance, investment firms, pensions, consumer credit and capital markets. He also serves on the Government Reform Committee, which has wideranging oversight responsibilities regarding operations and policies of the federal government.

The Feb. 27 luncheon menu will include fried chicken, fried catfish, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler and raspberry tea. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased through Master Sgt. Octavia Richardson (623) 856-5616), Staff Sgt. Tenequa Styles-Glenn (623) 856-9851, Tech. Sgt. Cornelius Plumber (623) 856-7284, Master Sgt. Don Prioleau (623) 856-3651 and Senior Master Sgt. Darryl Marion (623) 856-6643.

Later that afternoon, a retreat ceremony with two flights made up of 80 Airmen is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at the 56th Fighter Wing building flagpole. All are welcome to attend. See your first sergeant to take part in the retreat.

Other Black History Month events will continue through February at the youth center and the Luke library. Each Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at the youth center, activities will include craftmaking and reenactments of famous events such as the Rosa Parks bus incident and the Civil War-era Underground Railroad. The Luke library storytelling hour at 9:30 a.m., Feb. 22, will feature the book, "Follow The Drinking Gourd" by Jeanette Winter. Children and adults are welcome to attend both events