Concord, CA. - The National Park Service, in collaboration with the Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial, the Army, and East Bay Regional Park District invite you to join the annual Port Chicago Commemoration on July 17, 2021 at 10:00 am, as we honor the 320 men who lost their lives in the largest WWII military disaster on the home front. This year’s event is an opportunity for friends, family, and others interested in the Port Chicago disaster and its aftermath to join in a day of remembrance. The disaster led to a work stoppage and the largest mutiny trial in history. The response of African American communities to these events exposed the shameful injustices of racism and illuminated the issues of segregation and racial inequality in the military. Today, the memorial serves not only as a place to honor those who lost their lives, but also as a springboard for exploring social justice in our society.
Unlike past events, this year we will be limiting the number of in-person attendees. For this reason, the event will be recorded for those not able to attend. We ask you to please help us spread the word. This will be a great opportunity to hear about the history of Port Chicago and contemplate its influence on civil rights. We invite you to listen, learn, and honor those that gave their lives. Information on how to view the recorded commemoration will be posted on our website sometime after the event.
The event will be held on an active military base, requiring all visitors to have a reservation and a security check. Visitors age 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult. When reserving a spot, please be ready to give the following:
•First Name, Middle Name, Last Name (for those with no middle name put “NMN")
•Date of Birth
•E-Mail Address
•Daytime Phone Number
•State issued driver's license or identification number & state issued (anyone under the age of 18 must put the word “minor" instead of an identification number)
Reservations are required and must be made by July 9, 2021 by visiting the following secure website: tinyurl.com/3w75rm55
For inquiries, please leave a voicemail message at 925-228-8860 x6520 or e-mail us at POCH_General_Info@nps.gov. For more information about the event, please visit www.nps.gov/poch.
www.nps.gov
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 423 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Tags: port chicago commeoration 77th anniversary disaster civil rights
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
