BONHAM – Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center will observe Black History Month with a tribute to African American history through movement and song on February 23 at 12 p.m. in the auditorium.

Feature performances of African, modern, and liturgical dances by the University of North Texas theatre department will provide an entertaining perspective on the evolution of African American culture.

This year’s national theme is “Black Women in American History and Culture” which encourages Americans of all backgrounds to remember and honor the contributions of strong black women like Rosa Parks, known as the mother of modern civil rights movement.

“VA North Texas Health Care System is a diverse organization that values all backgrounds and cultures,” said Director Jeffery L. Milligan.

“Respect is one of VA’s core values, and appreciating each other’s differences cultivates creativity in the workplace and an interest to learn more about our fellow employees as well as the veterans we serve,” Milligan said. 

Veterans like the Tuskegee Airmen not only battled enemies during wartime but also fought against racism and segregation to prove they were just as good as any other pilot.  But Black History Month is about more than just the past. It is about each citizen’s ability to know and understand and claim the political, civil and social rights that belong to every American. 

At the Department of Veterans Affairs, duty to country knows only three colors – the red, the white and the blue – and those who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces have truly served us all and earned the honored title of “veteran.” 

VA North Texas Health Care System serves over 110,000 patients each year, delivering over one million outpatient visits to veterans in 38 North Texas counties and two counties in southern Oklahoma.