September 7, 2013 - September 13, 2013, The Afro-American
Members of the 75th Airborne Rangers
Army Veteran Edgar Brookins and Col. La’Tonya Lynn with some of the famed Tuskegee Airmen
Lt. Col. Wendy Rivers, Col. Anita Dixon, Chap. (Lt. Col.) Myrtle Bowen, Col. La’Tonya Lynn and Lt. Col. Priscilla Smalls
Cadets from Bowie State University
Dr. Bernard Watson, coexecutive producer of the documentary and Marine Corps Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Clifford Stanley, MD
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WUSA9 News Noonday Anchor, JC Hayward interviewing Tuskegee Airmen
Marines in attendance
One Solution Founder Cathy Hughes and Walmart hosted a special reception and film screening of the documentary Veterans of Color on Aug 21, at the AFI Theater in Silver James Winbush and Mel Forbes, National Col. Fern Sumpter, Spring, Md. Over 300 veterans including members of the Chairman, Army Commander, Advisory Board and famed Tuskegee Airmen, active duty service members Joint Base Myerhis daughter with and national and local dignitaries came to witness the Henderson Hall Darnell Lee screening of the documentary chronicling the oftenuntold patriotic stories of Blacks in the military during World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Guests included Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.); Dr. Bernard Watson, the film’s coSharonda Britton of Wal-Mart, Dr. AKAs: Dr. Allena Willis, Col. Tia executive producer; Bernard Watson and Alfred Liggins Johnson and Stacey Mangham Sharonda Britton III, CEO/President, Radio One of Walmart; Tanya Bradshers of the White House; Sylvia Cyrus of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and Dr. Bernard Watson, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Cathy Hughes, Sylvia Cyrus and Tanya Marine Corps retired Maj. Bradshers Gen. Clifford Stanley, MD.
Robert and Jackie Griffin, Joe and Gwen Howze, Renee Allen and Walter Kirkland with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Tyree Webster in the back row
Tanya Henman, Chap(Lt. Col.), Myrtle Bowen, Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker, Col. La’Tonya Lynn and Lt. Col. Priscilla Smalls
A standing room only retirement ceremony July 26 heard high praise for Col. M. Tia Johnson, the first AfricanAmerican female to attain the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Much of the praise of Johnson came from Robert S. Taylor, Defense Department acting general counsel and former general counsel Jeh C. Johnson. “Tia was the lawyer advising the top lawyer in the Department of Defense,” Johnson said, praising her intellect and moral courage. The retiree thanked “those who came before, on whose shoulders l stand,” and concluded her remarks by presenting to her mother the Congressional Gold Medal awarded posthumously to her father, Russell W. Johnson, recognizing his service as an “original Montford Point Marine.”
Col. Johnson’s family members, who came to celebrate her retirement
Cathy Hughes (center) with friends and guests
Col. Johnson presents her mother, Mrs. Edith W. Johnson, the Certificate of Recognition from the U.S. Congress awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to her father, Russell W. Johnson (posthumously) identifying him as an Original Montford Point Marine.
Photos by Rob Roberts
Col. Tia Johnson provides remarks
Jeh C. Johnson, former General Counsel, Department of Defense, provided comments summarizing Col. Johnson’s illustrious career
Lt. Gen. Dana Chipman, the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army, and Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi, the Judge Advocate General, U.S. Navy, congratulate Mrs. Edith Johnson after the presentation. Lt. Col C. Wayne Brittian (Chaplain) gave the Invocation
Edgar Brookins, Brig. Gen. (Ret) Belinda Pinckney and her husband, Lt. Col. (Ret) Quinn Pinckney
Joanne Adetayo (center) congratulates Col. Johnson and her husband, Alvin K. Phillips
Robert S. Taylor, acting general counsel, Department of Defense, hosted the ceremony Photos by Rob Roberts