House Joint Resolution 25-1020 Revised

House Joint Resolution 25-1020

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning recognition of African American veterans.

• Page 1, Line 1WHEREAS, The military history of African Americans spans from

• Page 1, Line 2the arrival of the first enslaved Africans during the colonial history of the United States to the present day; and

• Page 1, Line 3

• Page 1, Line 4WHEREAS, Throughout the history of the United States, African

• Page 1, Line 5Americans have honorably served in every military conflict fought by the

• Page 1, Line 6nation, often facing segregation, discrimination, and limited opportunities while courageously defending our nation; and

• Page 1, Line 7

• Page 1, Line 8WHEREAS, African Americans, despite being confined by the

• Page 1, Line 9segregation prevalent in our country, still chose the path of military service to prove their worth as people and citizens; and

• Page 1, Line 10

• Page 1, Line 11WHEREAS, Through their dedication and valor, African

• Page 2, Line 1American service members demonstrated their unwavering commitment

• Page 2, Line 2to the ideals of democracy and equality, even when those ideals were not

• Page 2, Line 3extended to them, and they ultimately helped to lay the groundwork for the broader civil rights movement; and

• Page 2, Line 4

• Page 2, Line 5WHEREAS, Even though many African American men and

• Page 2, Line 6women have tragically lost their lives in service to their country, these

• Page 2, Line 7and countless other African Americans chose the path of military service

• Page 2, Line 8to prove their worth, regain a sense of dignity, and secure a place of honor

• Page 2, Line 9within a society that often denied them fundamental rights. Through their

• Page 2, Line 10bravery, resilience, and determination, these individuals not only served

• Page 2, Line 11in defense of our nation but also fought for their right to stand as equals alongside their fellow service members; and

• Page 2, Line 12

• Page 2, Line 13WHEREAS, The military has long served as a unique arena in

• Page 2, Line 14which African American men and women could rise through the ranks,

• Page 2, Line 15challenging societal limitations and breaking barriers that confined them to second-class status; and

• Page 2, Line 16

• Page 2, Line 17WHEREAS, Despite facing segregation, discrimination, and

• Page 2, Line 18unequal treatment both within and outside of military service, African

• Page 2, Line 19American veterans persevered, demonstrating excellence, leadership, and

• Page 2, Line 20a deep commitment to duty, thus paving the way for future generations of

• Page 2, Line 21African American service members to continue the fight for equality,

• Page 2, Line 22justice, and respect within the armed forces and throughout American society; and

• Page 2, Line 23

• Page 2, Line 24WHEREAS, African American veterans have played pivotal roles

• Page 2, Line 25in every war fought by the United States, including the Revolutionary

• Page 2, Line 26War, the War of 1812, the Mexican American War, the Civil War, the

• Page 2, Line 27Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, both World Wars, the Korean

• Page 2, Line 28War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, demonstrating exceptional bravery and dedication; and

• Page 2, Line 29

• Page 2, Line 30WHEREAS, During the Civil War, approximately 180,000 African

• Page 2, Line 31American soldiers served in the Union Army, making up nearly 10 percent of its total force, and an additional 19,000 served in the Navy; and

• Page 2, Line 32

• Page 2, Line 33WHEREAS, During World War I, more than 380,000 African

• Page 2, Line 34Americans served in the United States military, many of whom faced

• Page 2, Line 35segregation and discrimination while making invaluable contributions to

• Page 2, Line 36the war effort; and

• Page 3, Line 1WHEREAS, During World War II, more than 1.25 million African

• Page 3, Line 2Americans served in the United States military, including in combat and

• Page 3, Line 3support roles, while also breaking barriers that paved the way for the desegregation of the armed forces; and

• Page 3, Line 4

• Page 3, Line 5WHEREAS, Despite the dedication and sacrifice of African

• Page 3, Line 6American service members, many military authorities have historically

• Page 3, Line 7been skeptical of their patriotism, questioning their loyalty and

• Page 3, Line 8commitment to the nation they bravely served. This skepticism persisted

• Page 3, Line 9from the time before the end of slavery through Reconstruction and well

• Page 3, Line 10into the twentieth century. Even as African Americans fought valiantly in

• Page 3, Line 11wars such as the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, they were

• Page 3, Line 12often relegated to segregated units, given less prestigious assignments, or denied the recognition they deserved; and

• Page 3, Line 13

• Page 3, Line 14WHEREAS, This unjust treatment continued until the landmark

• Page 3, Line 15military desegregation policies of 1948, when President Harry S. Truman

• Page 3, Line 16issued Executive Order 9981, which sought to end segregation within the

• Page 3, Line 17armed forces. However, even after this official policy change, African

• Page 3, Line 18American veterans continued to face barriers to full equality in the

• Page 3, Line 19military, struggling against systemic racism, discrimination, and unequal

• Page 3, Line 20opportunities for advancement, despite their proven dedication to defending the very freedoms that often eluded them in civilian life; and

• Page 3, Line 21

• Page 3, Line 22WHEREAS, The implementation of Executive Order 9981 marked

• Page 3, Line 23a turning point in United States military history, leading to the gradual

• Page 3, Line 24integration of African Americans into all branches of the armed forces

• Page 3, Line 25and paving the way for broader civil rights advancements in American

• Page 3, Line 26society. However, despite this order, desegregation of the military was not

• Page 3, Line 27fully realized for several years, and all-African-American units persisted

• Page 3, Line 28well into the Korean War, with the last all-African-American unit not being disbanded until 1954; and

• Page 3, Line 29

• Page 3, Line 30WHEREAS, Despite their unwavering service, African American

• Page 3, Line 31veterans have historically been denied equal rights and benefits, including

• Page 3, Line 32access to the GI Bill, housing assistance, and other veteran services, highlighting the need for continued advocacy and justice; and

• Page 3, Line 33

• Page 3, Line 34WHEREAS, While African American service members continue

• Page 3, Line 35to demonstrate vigilance and resilience in all aspects of military service,

• Page 3, Line 36there remains much work to be done in the pursuit of equality,

• Page 3, Line 37opportunity, and recognition. African American men and women have led

• Page 4, Line 1the charge in advocating for a more inclusive military, clearing a path for

• Page 4, Line 2future generations to serve with dignity and pride. Their tireless efforts

• Page 4, Line 3have not only secured a place for them within the military but have also

• Page 4, Line 4opened doors for other African Americans to excel in leadership roles, advancing both military service and broader societal progress; and

• Page 4, Line 5

• Page 4, Line 6WHEREAS, The African American community takes great pride

• Page 4, Line 7in the enduring legacies left by those who have served, and they continue

• Page 4, Line 8to build upon the foundation of excellence, determination, and courage

• Page 4, Line 9laid by those who came before, ensuring that their contributions are

• Page 4, Line 10remembered and that their history serves as an inspiration for the next generation of service members and leaders; and

• Page 4, Line 11

• Page 4, Line 12WHEREAS, The Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of African

• Page 4, Line 13American military pilots in the United States armed forces during World

• Page 4, Line 14War II; the Buffalo Soldiers; the Montford Point Marines; and countless

• Page 4, Line 15other African American military units and individuals have left an

• Page 4, Line 16indelible mark on United States history, inspiring future generations and reshaping the armed forces; and

• Page 4, Line 17

• Page 4, Line 18WHEREAS, The late Lieutenant Colonel Clarence Shivers and

• Page 4, Line 19Colonel James Harvey III stand as towering figures in African American

• Page 4, Line 20military history, particularly in the context of the Tuskegee Airmen.

• Page 4, Line 21Lieutenant Colonel Shivers, a distinguished member of the Tuskegee

• Page 4, Line 22Airmen, served with bravery and distinction during World War II in the

• Page 4, Line 23332nd Fighter Group, which was known for its distinctive red-tailed

• Page 4, Line 24aircraft and played a significant role in escorting bombers during missions

• Page 4, Line 25over Europe. His legacy is immortalized with a statue dedicated to him at

• Page 4, Line 26the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, symbolizing

• Page 4, Line 27his remarkable contributions to the United States Air Force and the

• Page 4, Line 28struggle for equality in military service. Shivers retired in 1969, having

• Page 4, Line 29proven himself an integral part of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of

• Page 4, Line 30pioneering African American pilots who shattered racial barriers in aviation; and

• Page 4, Line 31

• Page 4, Line 32WHEREAS, Colonel James Harvey III made his mark as one of

• Page 4, Line 33the first African American officers in the United States Air Force.

• Page 4, Line 34Harvey's leadership and service during and after World War II continue

• Page 4, Line 35to inspire future generations of airmen. As a member of the Tuskegee

• Page 4, Line 36Airmen, he helped pave the way for the eventual integration of the United

• Page 4, Line 37States Air Force and contributed to the desegregation of the military. Both

• Page 4, Line 38men's careers exemplify the courage, resilience, and professionalism of

• Page 5, Line 1African American service members in the face of adversity, making them iconic figures in the history of Colorado military service; and

• Page 5, Line 2

• Page 5, Line 3WHEREAS, Cathay Williams made history in 1866 as the first

• Page 5, Line 4African American woman to serve in the United States military. She

• Page 5, Line 5joined the 38th United States Infantry Regiment, which was stationed in

• Page 5, Line 6the western frontier during the post-Civil War era. She was honorably

• Page 5, Line 7discharged and passed away in Colorado, and her memorial is in Pueblo; and

• Page 5, Line 8

• Page 5, Line 9WHEREAS, Wanda James, a distinguished veteran of the United

• Page 5, Line 10States Navy, made history as the first African American woman to be a

• Page 5, Line 11part of the Naval ROTC program at the University of Colorado Boulder.

• Page 5, Line 12Her groundbreaking service in the Navy paved the way for future

• Page 5, Line 13generations of African American women to pursue military careers. In her

• Page 5, Line 14continued commitment to public service and higher education, James

• Page 5, Line 15currently serves as a member of the University of Colorado Board of

• Page 5, Line 16Regents, where she has made a profound and lasting impact on the lives

• Page 5, Line 17of students, advocating for inclusive policies and supporting initiatives

• Page 5, Line 18that foster academic excellence, diversity, and leadership development within the university community; and

• Page 5, Line 19

• Page 5, Line 20WHEREAS, Leslie Summey is a United States Navy veteran. She

• Page 5, Line 21is the first African American person to ever be elected as a Commissioner

• Page 5, Line 22on the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners and was sworn

• Page 5, Line 23into office January 9, 2023. Her current term expires January 2027. She

• Page 5, Line 24serves as the first African American chair of the Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners; and

• Page 5, Line 25

• Page 5, Line 26WHEREAS, The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion,

• Page 5, Line 27known as the "Six Triple Eight", was an all-African American, all-female

• Page 5, Line 28unit during World War II, playing a critical role in maintaining morale

• Page 5, Line 29and communication between United States soldiers stationed overseas and

• Page 5, Line 30their families back home. This battalion, which served in Europe, was

• Page 5, Line 31tasked with sorting and delivering delayed mail to troops, facing

• Page 5, Line 32tremendous challenges due to the sheer volume of undelivered packages.

• Page 5, Line 33The women of the 6888th, led by Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams

• Page 5, Line 34Earley, displayed incredible determination and dedication, working

• Page 5, Line 35around the clock to ensure that soldiers received their letters and supplies; and

• Page 5, Line 36

• Page 5, Line 37WHEREAS, The 6888th's contributions were overlooked for many

• Page 6, Line 1years, but their service was integral to the success of wartime efforts and

• Page 6, Line 2a milestone in the integration of women into the military. The 6888th is

• Page 6, Line 3now recognized as one of the most important units in African American and women's military history; and

• Page 6, Line 4

• Page 6, Line 5WHEREAS, John W. Mosley Jr. persevered through adversity

• Page 6, Line 6throughout his life, inspired by his father, John W. Mosley Sr. Mosley Sr.,

• Page 6, Line 7born into slavery, migrated west to Colorado in the 1880s, during the

• Page 6, Line 8silver boom, seeking opportunity. In an era of Jim Crow laws, Mosley Sr.

• Page 6, Line 9secured employment as a Pullman porter, one of the few jobs available to African American workers at the time; and

• Page 6, Line 10

• Page 6, Line 11WHEREAS, In 1939, John W. Mosley Jr. enrolled at the

• Page 6, Line 12Agricultural College of Colorado (now Colorado State University),

• Page 6, Line 13becoming the first African American letterman in the school's history.

• Page 6, Line 14Many refer to him as the Jackie Robinson of CSU athletics. In 1998,

• Page 6, Line 15Mosley Jr. was inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2009, he was admitted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame; and

• Page 6, Line 16

• Page 6, Line 17WHEREAS, After college, Mosley Jr. joined the Tuskegee Airmen

• Page 6, Line 18and trained as a bomber pilot, one of the first African Americans to do so.

• Page 6, Line 19Lieutenant Colonel Mosley served for over 25 years on active and reserve

• Page 6, Line 20duty, including during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam

• Page 6, Line 21War. He participated in the Berlin Airlift, achieved the rank of command

• Page 6, Line 22pilot, and served as both a trainer and mentor to young pilots. Mosley Jr. often remarked, "I had to fight in order to fight!"; and

• Page 6, Line 23

• Page 6, Line 24WHEREAS, In 2015, Aurora Public Schools dedicated a P-8

• Page 6, Line 25school to Mosley Jr. and his wife, Edna. The school, Edna and John W.

• Page 6, Line 26Mosley P-8, opened on October 1, 2015, near Airport Boulevard and

• Page 6, Line 27Second Avenue in Aurora, Colorado, and currently serves over 900 students; and

• Page 6, Line 28

• Page 6, Line 29WHEREAS, In 2021, Congress proposed a bill to dedicate the

• Page 6, Line 30newly built VA community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado,

• Page 6, Line 31to Lieutenant Colonel Mosley. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on

• Page 6, Line 32January 27, 2025, and the clinic opened its doors to veterans on February

• Page 6, Line 333, joining the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, which serves over 100,000 veterans annually; and

• Page 6, Line 34

• Page 6, Line 35WHEREAS, The contributions of African American veterans

• Page 6, Line 36extend beyond the battlefield, as they have continued to serve their communities as leaders, activists, educators, and public servants; and

• Page 7, Line 1

• Page 7, Line 2WHEREAS, Recognizing the sacrifices and achievements of

• Page 7, Line 3African American veterans is essential to ensuring their legacy is honored and their stories are preserved for future generations; and

• Page 7, Line 4

• Page 7, Line 5WHEREAS, We formally acknowledge and honor the

• Page 7, Line 6extraordinary service and sacrifices of African American veterans throughout United States history; now, therefore,

• Page 7, Line 7

• Page 7, Line 8Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Seventy-fifth General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:

• Page 7, Line 9

• Page 7, Line 10That we, the General Assembly, in recognition of the heroic efforts and significant sacrifices of African American veterans:

• Page 7, Line 11

• Page 7, Line 12(1)  Support efforts to ensure African American veterans receive

• Page 7, Line 13equitable access to benefits, health care, and resources that they have rightfully earned through their service;

• Page 7, Line 14

• Page 7, Line 15(2)  Encourage educational initiatives, museums, and historical

• Page 7, Line 16institutions to highlight the contributions of African American veterans, ensuring their stories are shared and celebrated;

• Page 7, Line 17

• Page 7, Line 18(3)  During Black History Month and beyond, commit to

• Page 7, Line 19recognizing African American veterans' valor, perseverance, and

• Page 7, Line 20patriotism, affirming our dedication to justice, equality, and the honor of their sacrifices; and

• Page 7, Line 21

• Page 7, Line 22(4)  Encourage the commemoration of African American veterans throughout both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

• Page 7, Line 23

• Page 7, Line 24Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent

• Page 7, Line 25to the Congressional Black Caucus; the National Black Caucus of State

• Page 7, Line 26Legislators; the Retired Enlisted Association; the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.;

• Page 7, Line 27the Colorado Black Women for Political Action; State Commander Carol

• Page 7, Line 28Thomas, Department of Colorado Veterans of Foreign Wars; American

• Page 7, Line 29Legion Department of Colorado; the United Veterans Coalition of

• Page 7, Line 30Colorado; the Colorado Disabled American Veterans; the Mountain

• Page 7, Line 31States Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America; Colonel James H.

• Page 7, Line 32Harvey III; Mrs. Peggy Chivers, the wife of the late Lieutenant Colonel

• Page 7, Line 33Clarence Chivers; and Aaron Futrell, grandson of John W. Mosley Jr.