In honor of Colonel Charles Young and Ret. General Colin Powell

Photo Below: Left to Right:  Charles Blatcher, III, chairman, National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations, Dr, Charles A. Wash, director, National Afro American Museum and Cultural Center, James L. Gallestein, Esq., chairman, Maysville Cabin Committee and Honorable David Cartmell, Mayor of Maysville, Kentucky. 

The National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations passes the Baton to Retired General Colin Powell in the continued fight for an honorary Presidential promotion for the legendary Buffalo Soldier, Educator and Diplomat – Colonel Charles Young, USCT 1889-1922.

Retired General Colin Powell

In an overture for assistance from the Coalition to Retired General Colin Powell, the following response was received: “I am aware of Col. Young’s record and contribution and need no reminding. We all stand on the shoulders of many who went before. I am pursuing this through my channels and in my way.” Colin Powell.

We will not forget- Photo of : The Julius Williams Community Service Award (Eagle photo shown above)

The National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations has taken the 38 year journey to honor the man – Colonel Charles Young – who made it possible for generations of minority military men and women to achieve top ranks in service to this country. From his West Point roots to his Buffalo Soldier footsteps, Colonel Charles Young deserves the honorary promotion to Brigadier General – a level of achievement that was denied due to his race. The promotion requested is a symbolic recognition of Colonel Young – who is the standard bearer of the Honor and Dedication of service performed by the 400,000 Black Soldiers who served during World War I.  These men are the least recognized Black Soldiers in American History – so it is time to stand on the right side of history.

“We are honored that organizations along with City and State Governments continue to work for Col. Charles Young recognition. We have gathered Resolutions from far and wide.  Our efforts have been endorsed by Resolutions from the NAACP National Board of Directors, the States of California, Illinois, Washington, Utah and the State of Kentucky to name a few. We have received Proclamations from the Congressional Black Caucus and the Legislative Black Caucuses from the State of Ohio and the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Thirty-five members of the United States House of Representatives signed a letter written by Congresswoman Barbara Lee to President Obama calling for the honorary promotion. We have gathered bi-partisan support from Democrats and Republicans. The supporters includes the countries of Haiti and the Republic of Liberia where the legendary Soldier served as Military Attaché.

Also, we have established a relationship with the communities of Maysville/Mays Lick, Kentucky, birthplace of Colonel Young. We were instrumental in the restoration of the log cabin where the Colonel was born in 1864. We have also established a relationship with the community of Wilberforce, Ohio, home of the National Afro American Museum and Cultural Center. The Museum is the largest repository of documents on the Colonel’s Life in the Nation. We have designated the highway between the two locations as the “Colonel Charles Young Corridor.” The Kentucky House of Representatives designated the highway running in front of the Cabin as the “Colonel Charles Young Memorial Highway.

On June 1st the Coalition presented a bronze maquette of the Colonel on horseback for display at the Museum. The maquette is a replica of the statue we are working to erect in Washington, DC. As a part of the ceremony we exercised our prerogative to grant Charles Young a modified Field Promotion to the honorary rank of Brigadier-General.  In addition, we named him the first recipient of the Golden Buffalo Leadership Medal.  The date of the presentation coincided with the ninety – third Anniversary of his internment in Arlington National Cemetery in 1923.  Although our honorary promotion is not recognized by the United States Government, we bestowed it as a gesture of our respect, admiration and appreciation for the doors he opened for Minority Americans to serve as Flag Officers in the Armed Forces.

“On July 19, we received the Julius E. Williams Community Service Award — a striking ceramic American Eagle grasping the Flag in it talons mounted on an engraved walnut base,” said Charles Blatcher, III, Chairman, National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations. “The award will be placed on display at the National Afro American Museum in Wilberforce, Ohio to provide an opportunity for all to see with the full exhibition highlighting Col .Young and the Buffalo Soldiers. We encourage Veteran Organizations and the general public to visit the Region. Anyone who appreciates history will find the visit enlightening.

“The Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations will receive an Award of Recognition from the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity on July 23rd at a Military Salute Program to be held in Las Vegas, NV at Caesar’s Palace. We are calling on the Fraternity and the public to support Retired General Colin Powell in pursuing the promotion through the White House. We have done what we could regarding the promotion requested through the White House. The baton is now passed to General Powell. We are hopeful that he can bring our years of advocacy to a successful conclusion under the Obama Administration. We are calling on the public to sign the petition calling for the legendary Colonel’s promotion. (Click the following link:   http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/an-honorary-presidential