A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, RECOGNIZING JULY 26, 2023 AS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 9981: DESEGREGATION OF THE ARMED FORCES WHEREAS, on July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981 abolishing segregation in the armed forces and ordering full integration of all branches; and WHEREAS, during World War II, of the 2.5 million African-American males who registered for the draft, more than one million served in uniform and faced great adversity; and WHEREAS, though Black Americans fought with distinction, racism and segregation continued when they returned home; and WHEREAS, President Truman's deep conviction was that the country had reached a turning point in our country's efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens; and WHEREAS, desegregating the U.S. military set a big precedent that significantly advanced the cause of civil rights; and WHEREAS, diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity are essential and the armed forces’ greatest assets; and WHEREAS, the armed forces became an important model for desegregation and equal opportunities for African Americans; and WHEREAS, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People shall seek to establish a working relationship with those agencies in government national, state and local having the responsibility in Veterans Affairs; and WHEREAS, on July 22, 2023, the NAACP Pomona Valley branch will host a Town Hall honoring local veterans; and NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF POMONA does hereby recognize July 26, 2023 as “The 75th Anniversary of Executive Order 9981: Desegregation of the Armed Forces” Pomona invites citizens to celebrate and recognize our African American Veterans to formulate a deeper level of our history, to better understand our position today and in the future.
Dated this 17th day of July, 2023