The Alexandria Black History Museum is offering two special events to pay tribute to African Americans who served in the armed forces. Both events are free and will be held at the museum at 902 Wythe St. in Alexandria.
On Nov. 8, at 7 p.m., Curtis Christopher Robinson, a former Tuskegee airman, will discuss his service in the elite flying corps during World War II. Robinson will also sign copies of his autobiography, “A Pilots Journey: Memoirs of a Tuskegee Airman,” co-authored by George Norfleet.
On Nov. 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., is Alexandria Black History Museums annual Veterans Day program. This years featured speaker is Constance A. Burns, executive director of the National Association of American Veterans and former curator for the Army Center for Military History. This event is co-sponsored by the Alexandria Branch of the NAACP, Alexandria Society for the Preservation of Black Heritage, Friends of Freedmens Cemetery and Alexandria Black History Museum.
For more information, contact the Alexandria Black History Museum at 703-838-4356 or online at www.alexblackhistory.org.
The students of Minnie Howard School welcome all veterans and active-duty service members to a special Veterans Tribute to be held Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. at the Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 2701 Commonwealth Ave. in front of the Mount Vernon Recreation Center.
The JROTC cadets will present the colors, the ESL students will present a short speech and handwritten letters, and the school band will perform. Honored speaker will be retired Brig. Gen. John W. Nicholson, secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission.
Veterans Day at Fort Belvoir, a community salute to veterans from all services with speaker Col. Brian W. Lauritzen, installation commander at Fort Belvoir, will be held Nov. 8, at the Fort Belvoir Officers Club. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. Cost for lunch is $20. To make a reservation, call the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce, 703-360-6925.
Mount Vernon celebrates Veterans Day by admitting active duty military personnel and veterans free of charge on Nov. 11. Special activities include a patriotic community concert by the all-veteran barbershop chorus, The Harmony Heritage Singers, at 11 a.m. (free to the public), and a 2 p.m. wreath-laying at the tomb of our George Washington. The wreath-laying is included with regular Mount Vernon admission: $13 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-11, and free for children under 6.