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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.
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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