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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 23, 2003)
® Ije jß n r tla n h (O b s tru e r Page A6 Area Kids Get Noggin Protection July 23. 2003 Paddle Through the Slough The staff at Legacy Health Sys tems knows how easily a summer afternoon o f riding bikes can land kids in the emergency room. To combat these potential accidents, trauma nurses are sponsoring a series ofhelm et sales at discounted prices. The nurses gathered at Emanuel Hospital last week to sell helmets fo r just $5 and a variety o f bicycle and pedestrian lights, too. The next sale is from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 21, in the atrium at the Winstar Morris Room ofLegacy Emanuel Hospital. Helmets w ill also be on sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays Sept. 13 at the Legacy M ount Hood Medical Center and from 11 am . to3 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Legacy Meridian Park Hospital. But having a helmet doesn’ t cut it i f the fit isn’t just right. The hel mets are sized to fit and protect each k id ’s head. Kids can also bring in their own helmets for correct fittin g and adjustment. P hoto by M ark W ashington /T h i P ortland O bserver For more inform ation, call 503- An a ffo rd a b le h e lm e t sale a t Legacy Em anuel H ospital. 415-5725. The Columbia Slough Small C raft Regatta w ill make a splash from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, July 27 at the Multnom ah County Drainage D istrict Headquarters, 1880 N.E. Elrod Dr. The ninth annual event cel ebrates the Columbia Slough, a kayakers. w aterway w ith unique history, Participants receive free refresh abundant w ild life and many oppor ments, a free Columbia Slough ac tunities for summer fun. The re cess guide and a free t-shirt. gatta is the largest comm unity pad Donations are appreciated. For dling event in the northwest, at more in fo rm a tio n, ca ll 503-823- tracting hundreds o f canoeists and 2934. Friends Enjoy Sternwheeler Sights Corliss McKeever of the African American Health Coalition and friends Enrique Godreau, Miriam Naini and AH Arjomand of Seattle enjoy a summer brunch cruise on the Columbia Sternwheeler. y R on W eb er IPortland Observer Benjamin O. Davis - Generals Times Two Father and son changed how the military views men of color I f you were to look at their m ili tary jackets, you m ight get con fused in a hurry. Both Benjamin O. Davis and his son Benjamin Jr. have long, successful m ilitary careers. The senior Davis was bom in Washington D.C. on M ay 28,1877 and died a celebrated U.S. A rm y war hero in Chicago on Thanksgiv ing weekend in 1970. A fte r attend- in g H o w a rd U n iv e rs ity and W ilberforce University, Davis was said to have been the most edu cated A frican American o f his era. He joined the A rm y as a private in 1899, went on to become a sergeant major, the highest enlisted rank, before becoming a ju n io r officer and ultim ately a general, an un heard status for an A frican A m eri can at that time. Davis also became the U.S. m ili tary attaché for Liberia. Through out his years in the m ilita ry and civilia n government he taught m ili tary science at W ilberforce and S pec i a ItyJ* ru « ses ■an. COLUMBIA GORGE I-8OO-643-I354 Zascade Locks, OR www.sternwhMlor.com Like his father, B enjam in O. Davis Jr. show ed th a t regardless o f skin color, a person co u ld fig h t as w ell as any o th e r soldier, gra d u a te from college ju s t like anyone else, and elevate them selves to p o w e rfu l p o s itio n s in the work force. ily, and northern Italy. His bravery and relentless pursuit o f the enemy gained him an appointment as com mander o f the 33 2nd Fighter Group. By the end o f the war Davis Jr. had earned not only the Distinguished Flying Cross, but also the Silver Star. Although many m ilitary men quit or retired after the horrors o f the war, Davis Jr. continued, be coming the commander o f the 51 “ Fighter Interceptor W ing during the Korean War. A fter Korea, he became Director o f Operations and Training o f the Far East A ir Forces. Finally in 1954, Davis Jr. made the rank ofBrigadier Advertise m ’^Portland ( )bservcr call 503.388.0033 or email: ads(<r,portlattdobservcr.coni Be Responsible, Know Where You Stand FREE HIV TESTING T Benjamin O. Davis ’ contribution to America proved, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the true make up and ability o f the African-American race. Howard University. In 1948, he became the Inspector General in Washington D.C. D avis’ contribution to America proved, beyond a shadow o f a doubt, the true make up and a bility o f the African-Am erican race. His exemplary career is also credited w ith drawing many African-Ameri cans into m ilita ry service, includ ing his son, Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Surprising not only his dad, but also many m ilita ry officials, the younger Davis decided to jo in the A ir Force. Davis Jr. was also bom in Washington D.C., on Dec. 18,1912, when his father was 35-years-old and had already served in the m ili tary for 13 years. One o f their proud est moments came when the older Davis pinned the Distinguished Flying Cross onto his son in Italy during W orld W ar II. Davis Jr. graduated from the United States M ilita ry Academy at West Point in 1936, only the fourth black person to complete the acad emy. He was then transferred to the A ir Academy and got his wings to fly in 1942, just as the W orld W a rll was in fu ll force. His first assignment was com mander o f the 99* Fighter Squad ron, w ith campaigns in A frica, Sic- General. He would be the first A fri can American to earn this rank in the A ir Force. Fi ve years before his father died, Davis Jr. was promoted again. This time it was to the rank o f Lieutenant General, one rank above his father’ s highest achievement. Five years later, about the time his father died, Davis Jr. retired from the m ilitary. Including his years at West Point, Davis served the m ilitary for 38 years, bringing the total service time o f father and son to 88 years. Like his father, he showed that re gardless o f skin color, a person could fight as well as any other soldier, graduate from college just like anyone else and elevate them selves to powerful positions in the w ork force. A fte r the m ilita ry, Davis Jr. served as Director o f Public Safety in Cleveland, Ohio and assistant secretary; in charge o f c iv il avia tion security fo r the U.S. Depart ment o f Transportation. Never before or after has any father and son African-American team done so much in the name o f their race for the United States m ili tary. The Davis’s contribution to America and its rich history must never be forgotten. Open to the Community Highland United Church of Christ Comer of NE Going and 9th Avenue Wednesday Evening August 6, 2003 5pm - 8pm African American Health Coalition, Inc. Contaot AAHC a t 2800 N. Vanoouver Ave Portland, OR 07227,803-413-1860,1