U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs CMV – News Update

As we celebrate Black History Month, we discover the rich tapestry of African American history that has shaped our diverse nation. This year’s theme, “African Americans and the Arts,” invites us to honor the artists who use their crafts to uplift, inspire and effect change. Their work demonstrates the resilience and creativity of the African American community and their stories are an integral part of our shared history. [From VA News]

Teresa L. King was born in 1961 in Clinton, North Carolina, and was the eighth of 12 children. She enlisted in the Army in 1980, where she attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. King began her service as a postal clerk in the 139th Postal Company, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. [From VA News]

It takes a special kind of resilience to get back up again after a hurricane has left you homeless not once but twice. Navy Veteran Margarita Belmarez has that kind of resilience. In less than two years and with the support of VA, she’s gone from sleeping in her car to owning her own home. [From VA News]

The Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Cemetery Administration (NCA) hosted a memorial ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, on February 22, 2024, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery righting a wrong of the past by dedicating new headstones for 17 World War I Black soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment. These soldiers were among those executed following the courts martial of 110 Black soldiers charged with murder and mutiny in the 1917 Houston Riots. Consistent with standard procedure of that time for soldiers who were sentenced to death in a court martial, their graves were marked with headstones that listed only their names and year of death – as opposed to full honors.