230201-F-EU398-733

Senior Master Sgt Tonyia Johnson, 31st Force Support Squadron Postal Activities flight chief, Master Sgt Franklin Walton, 31st Maintenance Squadron First Sergeant, U.S. Air Force Maj. Sylvennie Smith, 31st Fighter Wing commander’s executive officer, and U.S. Air Force Col. Timothy Maxwell, 31st Mission Support Group commander recreate the infamous “Greensboro 4” photo at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Department of Defense and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute has approved the theme “Inspiring Change” for this year’s Black History Month theme. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-084

Tech. Sgt. Kerron Henry, 31st Security Forces Squadron large vehicle inspection station and visitor control center NCO in-charge, reads the full Black History Month proclamation for a group before its official signing by U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. BHM recognition was extended from a week to a month by U.S. president Gerald Ford in 1976 to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-467

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, gives a few words to commemorate Black History Month during the BHM proclamation signing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, Association for the Study of Negro Life and History cofounder, established “Negro History Week” to honor the contributions African Americans have made in U.S. history, the celebration would later be extended to a month in 1976. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-341

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, gives a few words to commemorate Black History Month during the BHM proclamation signing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, Association for the Study of Negro Life and History cofounder established “Negro History Week” to honor the contributions African Americans have made in U.S. history, the celebration would later be extended to a month in 1976. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-600

Attendees listen to the reciting of the Black History Month proclamation during the signing ceremony at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. In 1926, Carter G. Woodson, Association for the Study of Negro Life and History cofounder established “Negro History Week” to honor the contributions African Americans have made in U.S. history, the celebration would later be extended to a month in 1976. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-551

Members of the 31st Fighter Wing gather to commemorate the beginning of Black History Month during the BHM proclamation signing ceremony at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. BHM recognition was extended from a week to a month by U.S. president Gerald Ford in 1976 to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-652

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, signs the Black History Month proclamation during the signing ceremony at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. BHM recognition was extended from a week to a month by U.S. president Gerald Ford in 1976 to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
230201-F-EU398-407

Tech. Sgt. Kerron Henry, 31st Security Forces Squadron large vehicle inspection station and visitor control center NCO in-charge , reads the Black History Month proclamation before its getting signed by U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Tad Clark, 31st Fighter Wing commander, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Feb. 1, 2023. BHM recognition was extended from a week to a month by U.S. president Gerald Ford in 1976 to honor the accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
31st Fighter Wing honors Black History Month during proclamation signing

“The 2023 Department of Defense Black History Month poster depicts (from left) Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, Ezell A. Blair, Jr., and David Richmond, on the second day of a peaceful sit-down protest they organized at a Woolworth in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Greensboro Sit-Ins were the first prominent non-violent sit-in protests of the civil rights movement and lasted from February 1 to July 25, 1960. The protests led to the Woolworth Department Store chain ending its policy of racial segregation in its stores.” (Courtesy Illustration/Caption by DEOMI Public Affairs Office)

Photo Details / Download Hi-Res

31st Fighter Wing honors Black History Month during proclamation signing

Published Feb. 8, 2023
By Tech. Sgt. Miquel Jordan

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --

230201-F-EU398-733

230201-F-EU398-084

230201-F-EU398-467

230201-F-EU398-341

230201-F-EU398-600

230201-F-EU398-551

230201-F-EU398-652

230201-F-EU398-407

31st Fighter Wing honors Black History Month during proclamation signing