Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial

#BlackHistoryMonth Thurgood Marshall Born: July 2, 1908, Baltimore, Maryland Passed: January 24, 1993 Bethesda Maryland... Thurgood’s journey towards becoming a Supreme Court Justice created a ripple effect for many others to succeed. He is a true example of what it means to achieve the many changes needed within American society during, and much after WWII. After graduating from Lincoln University, Thurgood Marshall applied to law school at the University of Maryland but was denied due to the color of his skin. Instead, he attended Howard University Law School and graduated at the top of his class. He soon opened up a law office in Baltimore, representing the local chapter for the NAACP. His goal was to challenge segregation within schools and state universities. One of his first wins while representing the NAACP: integrating the University of Maryland Law School. He moved to New York to work fulltime as the NAACP’s chief legal counsel in 1936. During the 1940’s he was civilian counsel for the Port Chicago sailors on their appeal, as chief counsel for the NAACP. Marshall filed a brief on behalf of all fifty men; He received a written request from the sailors themselves. In October of 1944, Marshall attended the trial at Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay where he stated, "These men are being tried for mutiny solely because of their race and color. Although unsuccessful in this trial, Thurgood Marshall fought for integration within schools, universities, and throughout the United States. He argued in front of the supreme court a multitude of times until his own nomination by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. He served as a supreme court justice for 24 years, continuing his persistent work within the courtroom. His appointment as a supreme court justice was the first for African Americans, with President Johnson defending his choice by stating that it was the right thing to do, the right time to do it, the right man and the right place. Thurgood Marshall is considered one of the country's greatest Jurists and has set the tone for others to follow suit.

We are hiring an HBCU Intern for POCH. Please feel free to share this widely. The application period closes on 2/20/2022: Interpretation Intern (jobdiva.com) The intern will be researching and cataloging African American Newspaper articles that documented the disaster and mutiny trial, help with planning the commemoration ceremony, and produce interpretive content.

Memorial Day Memorial Day (May 31, 2021) is a time of remembrance for those who lost their lives while serving in the US military. Many memorials and monuments in national parks allow reflection on military service and sacrifice throughout our nation's history. It is also traditionally a time to reflect on American values by learning about our natural and cultural heritage, visiting historic places, and enjoying the great outdoors. Connect with national parks from anywhere th...rough virtual experiences or visit a nearby park. Remember to plan your trip and check for changes in operations before departing. Please also see the latest safety guidance for visiting parks and recreating responsibly. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/memorial-day.htm

Today's theme for National Park week is Friendship. We'd like to recognize the amazing work of our friends group: The Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial is a registered non-profit and the official fundraising partner of the National Park Service, created to help support and enhance the Port Chicago National Monument in 2007. Friends of Port Chicago was successful in advocating for designation of Port Chicago as a national memorial and now it’s mission is to promote th...e history of Port Chicago, support the growth of the park and inform the visitor experience through virtual and real-time experiences and education. https://portchicagomemorial.org/about/ https://www.nps.gov/su/npscelebrates/national-park-week.htm #FriendshipFriday, #NPSFriends, and #NationalParkWeek.

This month is Women's History Month and we'd like to celebrate three women who are passionate about sharing the story of Port Chicago: Reverend Diana McDaniel is the senior minister of Unity of San Leandro and has been leading the ministry there for 20 years. She also serves on the Board of the West Central Region of Unity Churches. She also serves as President of the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial. You can learn more at www.portchicagomemorial.org Camarin Madigan... is a partner in the Perkins Coie Law Firm. She focuses on real estate law, with additional experience in land use, natural resources, energy and environmental law. Camarin serves on the board of the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial and Contra Costa Senior Legal Services. She received the 2019 Friends of Port Chicago Commemorative Hero’s Award. Sharon McGriff-Payne is an author of many newspapers articles and books which include: John Grider’s Century: African Americans in Solano, Napa and Sonoma Counties from 1845 to 1925, and African-Americans in Vallejo. Sharon McGriff Payne was named Solano County’s Woman of the year in 2019 and serves on the committee for the Friends of the Port Chicago 50 Vallejo Chapter.

BG Heidi Hoyle, #SDDC commanding general, and CSM Rocky Carr, SDDC senior enlisted leader, recently visited #SurfaceWarriors at the 834th Transportation BN - SD...DC, MOTCO for a mission update, a visit of the facilities at Military Ocean Terminal Concord, California, and to recognize some high speed employees. During their visit they also went to the National Park Service Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. The memorial tells the story of July 17, 1944, when a massive explosion instantly killed 320 men and destroyed two ships being loaded with ammunition destined for the Pacific theater. The explosion was #WWII's worst home front disaster.

The Port Chicago naval magazine in California was built as the United States entered WWII. Here, ships heading to the Pacific were loaded with ammunition by a ...predominantly African American crew in the segregated Navy. On the night of July 17th, 1944, while two ships were being loaded a devastating explosion instantly kill 320 workers in the worst home front disaster of the war. Soon after, when surviving sailors balked at returning to work because of unsafe conditions, 50 were convicted of mutiny. Public outcry over the treatment of African American sailors following the disaster would lead to the desegregation of the US military in 1948. Today, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, located on the still active Military Ocean Terminal Concord base, remembers this tragic incident. #FindYourPark #BlackHistoryMonth See more

At Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, we share the story of how WWII's worst home front disaster was a catalyst for the desegregation of the armed forces. This terrible tragedy highlights racial injustice in the past and the event’s influence on the civil rights movement in the present and future. This month, we celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s right to vote. The suffrage movement was ofte...n tied with the abolitionist movement as well. Women of color like Mary Church Terrell, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and Harriet Tubman played a special part in our fight for equality. In this spirit, we recognize and celebrate all the freedoms and rights that those who came before us have fought so hard to achieve. To learn more about the 19th Amendment and civil rights visit these links: https://www.nps.gov/a/us-suffrage-timeline-1648-to-2016.htm https://www.nps.gov//black-women-and-the-fight-for-voting- https://www.nps.gov//african-american-women-and-the-ninete https://www.nps.gov//african-american-civil-rights-network NPS Photo: NPS honors the women's suffrage slogan Forward through the Darkness, Forward into Light. Library of Congress Photo: Nine African American women posed, standing, full length, with Nannie Burroughs holding banner reading, "Banner State Woman's National Baptist Convention" (1905-1915). Lot 12572

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service, a new federal bureau in the Department of the Interior responsib...le for protecting the 35 national parks and monuments. Today, 104 years later, the National Park Service comprises 419 park sites covering more than 84 million acres in 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Saipan, and the Virgin Islands. These parks preserve our nation’s pristine scenery, natural wonders, cultural and historical monuments, places of deep meaning, and moments of great change. Share your favorite park adventure, memory, or story! https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/nps-birthday.htm Image: Bison group on the move at sunrise in Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park NPS / Jacob W. Frank #NPSBirthday #FoundersDay

Future home of the joint use visitor center.

Please join us for a special virtual presentation. This year, in place of an in-person event, we are hosting a "Premiere" video. The presentation will be nearly one hour of video that encompasses both archived and newer footage that helps to commemorate the 76th Anniversary of the Port Chicago Disaster. For those who need a fully accessilbe version of the video, that includes audio description, you may access the Smart Player at this link: https://smartplayer.captionsync.com/play.php

The location of Vallejo's Port Chicago memorial, which was dedicated last October, has special significance. Not far from the memorial is the site of what was once the segregated barracks that housed sailors who survived the Port Chicago explosion. They were sent to Vallejo/Mare Island shortly after the July 17, 1944 explosion. This is also the area where the work stoppage that subsequently led to the court martial of 50 African American sailors. The friends of the Port Chica...go 50 will be having their own commemoration on July 17th as well! https://www.facebook.com//The-Friends-of-The-Port-Chicago/ Photos Courtesy of Sharon McGriff Payne

76th Anniversary - Virtual Commemoration July 17th, 2020 1:00 pm Please join us for a special virtual presentation on Friday, July 17th at 1:00pm Pacific. This year, in place of an in-person event, we will be hosting a "Premiere" video on two platforms, which will launch on July 17th, at 1:00pm Pacific Time. We will provide those live links before the event. The presentation will be nearly one hour of video that encompasses both archived and newer footage that helps to commem...orate the 76th Anniversary of the Port Chicago Disaster. Check back for active Premier links on Friday, July 17th https://www.nps.gov/poch/virtual-commemoration.htm

No Time To Waste: The Urgent Mission of Betty Reid Soskin" (Betty has a special connection to the Port Chicago story, and the site is prominently featured in this film) We are thrilled to celebrate Juneteenth this year by announcing the broadcast premiere of the acclaimed documentary, No Time To Waste: The Urgent Mission of Betty Reid Soskin" on Independence Day, Saturday, July 4th at 7 pm on NBC Bay Area.... Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. --Maya Angelou, Still I Rise 155 years ago today, enslaved African-Americans in Texas finally learned that they were free. Since then, Juneteenth has become an annual celebration of African-American freedom, culture, and achievement. The great-granddaughter of a slave, Betty Reid Soskin has lived a life filled with painful and often humiliating memoriesyet she remains a defiant voice of hope. No Time to Waste examines this 98-year-old park ranger’s life, work, and urgent mission to restore critical missing chapters of America’s story. In her role at Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Soskin illuminates the often-invisible histories of African Americans and other people of color. She is elegant and incisive in conveying hard truths to wide audiences in telling a story about the value of American democracy, the realities of the African American struggle and the importance of continuing progress. This 50-minute film is a special opportunity to witness how Betty’s work has impacted the way the National Park Service conveys such history to audiences across the U.S, challenging fellow citizens to move together toward a more perfect union. To learn more about the film, visit the official Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/notimetowastefilm www.nps.gov/rori

In this clip from our Fighting for the Right to Fight: African American Experiences in World War II Electronic Field Trip, student reporter Maceo discusses the massive explosion at Port Chicago during WWII with National Park Service Ranger Kelli English. Watch Now: https://bit.ly/2Ux73TR

Virtual Memorial Day Hosted by Vicksburg National Military Park and 24 national parks, this is a must-see event that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home or your backyard. The National Park Service invites you to join in a virtual Memorial Day commemoration as we honor the men and women of our military who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.... Park rangers from all over the country representing the diversity of our national parks will bring unique, thought-provoking content to you! From newly naturalized American citizens proudly discussing their love for the United States to the recital of the Gettysburg Address, a long-standing tradition in national cemeteries, we invite you to listen, learn, and honor those that gave their lives for the freedoms we hold so dear. #MilitaryMondayPlus #MemorialDay #RecreateResponsibly #FindYourVirtualPark #HealthyParksHealthyPeople When: Monday, May 25, from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM EDT Where: Join through Vicksburg National Military Park Facebook Page RSVP: Registration on Facebook https://home.nps.gov/articles/virtual-memorial-day.htm

Into Forgetfulness - A Documentary "Into Forgetfulness" is our park intro documentary on the history of the Port Chicago disaster. This 10-minute video will help both adults and children learn about this tragic time in our history. On the evening of July 17, 1944, residents in the San Francisco east bay area were jolted awake by a massive explosion that lit up the night sky. At Port Chicago Naval Magazine, 320 men were instantly killed when the munitions ships they were loa...ding with ammunition for the Pacific theater troops blew up. On October 28th, 2009, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial became the 392nd unit of the National Park Service. Watch Documentary Here: https://www.nps.gov/p/learn/photosmultimedia/multimedia.htm Official U.S. Navy photo. Courtesy of the National Park Service, Port Chicago Naval Magazine. National Memorial.

National Park Service Subject Sites Do you love Alaska, Volcanoes, Arts, Battlefields, Wilderness, and more? Here's a great "at home" project for everyone. The National Park Service has a great collection of "Subject" sites that can be found through this provided list. Share it with your family and learn more about the fascinating subjects that the National Park Service has pulled together over the years. Learn from the parks, experts and volunteers, themselves.... https://www.nps.gov/learnandexplore/subjects.htm Photo. NPS/Lian Law

Temporary Park Closure Notice Due to the Contra Costa County Health Services Shelter-in-Place order, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial will be closed until at least 04/07/2020. Please see our website for updates: www.nps.gov/poch