Photo By Seaman Imani Daniels | PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Feb. 26, 2020) Naval Medical Center Portsmouth's (NMCP) galley staff...... read more read more
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (Feb. 26, 2020) – Naval Medical Center Portsmouth’s (NMCP) Diversity Committee hosted a Black History Month event on Feb. 26. NMCP staff and visitors celebrated the achievements of African-Americans as well as recognized the immeasurable impact they have had on the history of the United States.
The theme for this year’s Black History Month celebration is “Honoring the Past, Securing the Future.” To honor historic African-Americans throughout history, Diversity Committee members prepared readings to highlight the major accomplishments of prominent figures who have made history, distinguishing themselves by making significant contributions to the military.
Retired Vice Adm. Bruce Estes Grooms was the guest speaker who provided inspirational words remarking on the influence African-Americans had on history and how important it is to continue on the same course.
“As I think back over the many years of African-American contributions to the Navy and our country; this year’s theme seemed so appropriate,” Grooms said. “As well as looking forward and making sure that continues on the same path.”
Grooms spoke further about the importance of diversity and inclusion and significant African-Americans in history, referencing figures such as Garrett Augustus Morgan, the inventor of the gas mask; Marie Van Brittan Brown, a nurse and inventor of the home security system; Dr. Charles Drew, a surgeon who pioneered methods of storing blood plasma for transfusion and organized the first large-scale blood bank in the U.S.; and Katherine Johnson, an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights.
“Diversity and inclusion are wonderful terms of art, but what really matters is what we do about them,” Grooms said. “I have watched as we have evolved and I can’t count the number of times that we have spent trying to define the terms diversity and inclusion, but this concept is really about fair and equal opportunities to all; it has to be led from above.”
The Black History Month celebration concluded with a cake cutting ceremony and a cultural meal served in NMCP’s galley.
As the U. S. Navy's oldest, continuously-operating military hospital since 1830, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth proudly serves past and present military members and their families. The nationally acclaimed, state of the art medical center, including its ten branch health and TRICARE Prime clinics, serves the Hampton Roads area, and additionally offers premier research and teaching programs designed to prepare new doctors, nurses and hospital corpsmen for future roles in healing and wellness.
| Date Taken: | 02.28.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.28.2020 16:20 |
| Story ID: | 364179 |
| Location: | PORTSMOUTH, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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