STORIES WORTH SALUTING. From Clemency to the Congressional Gold Medal: Pastor Kyev Tatum’s Mission to Preserve Black Military Heritage.



STORIES WORTH SALUTING. From Clemency to the Congressional Gold Medal: Pastor Kyev Tatum’s Mission to Preserve Black Military Heritage. 


When Pastor Kyev Tatum of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church joined Bryant Pearson and the Bowtie Boys on a pilgrimage to honor the 100th anniversary of the 24th Infantry executions, he couldn’t have known that a canceled trip would ignite a lifelong calling. Although Hurricane Katrina halted their journey to Houston, it led them instead to Fort Sam Houston Military Base in San Antonio—where the wrongfully convicted Black soldiers of the 24th Infantry Regiment were hanged, dishonored in death, and forgotten by history.


That moment became a spiritual awakening.



The 24th Infantry Regiment—Black soldiers scapegoated and executed following the 1917 Houston Riot—had long been buried in silence. As America began to confront its legacy of military injustice and systemic racism, Pastor Tatum stepped forward. He became a leading voice in the call for clemency and led the sacred work of replacing the soldiers’ headstones at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. It was a solemn act of truth, reconciliation, and long-overdue honor.



But it was only the beginning.


Pastor Tatum’s mission to preserve Black military heritage deepened. Today, he is leading a campaign to rename Morningside Middle School in Fort Worth in honor of its former principal, the late Mr. Robert T. McDaniel—a Tuskegee Airman and civil rights pioneer. McDaniel served with distinction in the 477th Bombardment Group and took part in the historic 1945 Freeman Field Mutiny, a courageous protest that helped lay the groundwork for desegregating the U.S. military.


As he worked to elevate the stories of Black men who served, Pastor Tatum also turned his focus to the often-overlooked legacy of Black women in uniform.



His latest efforts honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—the only all-Black, all-female battalion deployed overseas during World War II. In recognition of his advocacy, Pastor Tatum, along with his wife Tonya and a Fort Worth delegation, was invited to Washington, D.C., for the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony celebrating the battalion’s service. The tribute carries special meaning in Texas, where 43 of the 6888th’s members hailed from—including three from Fort Worth.



While in the capital, Pastor Tatum also took part in special programs at the Library of Congress and the Veterans History Project, further establishing his role as a national steward of Black military memory. Since then, he has begun recording the stories of eleven Black veterans who have entrusted him with preserving their legacies.


To formalize this sacred work, Pastor Tatum has announced the creation of the Institute for Black Military Heritage at New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church. This groundbreaking initiative will serve as a permanent home for stories, artifacts, oral histories, and community education—dedicated to honoring the overlooked contributions of Black veterans and ensuring their sacrifices live on.



“The birth of this Institute is not just a moment—it’s a movement,” Pastor Tatum affirms. “Too often, the names and narratives of our Black veterans are stripped from the official record. We cannot let that continue. The Black church must stand in the gap—and we will.”


The Institute for Black Military Heritage is more than a museum. It is a sacred space of remembrance, a platform for advocacy, and a model for communities nationwide. It will uplift the stories of our military heroes and inspire a new generation to honor their courage, their service, and their sacrifice.



From the gravesites of San Antonio to the halls of the U.S. Capitol, from clemency campaigns to Congressional Gold Medals—Pastor Kyev Tatum and New Mount Rose are answering the call to preserve, protect, and promote Black military heritage with urgency, reverence, and resolve.


And that is a story worth saluting.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NOT GUILTY IN TARRANT COUNTY! Joseph Delancy Stands Victorious with His Grandmother by His Side. Pastor Kyev Tatum, Sr.

Image
NOT GUILTY IN TARRANT COUNTY! Joseph Delancy Stands Victorious with His Grandmother by His Side. Pastor Kyev Tatum, Sr.  https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article301585229.html FORT WORTH, TEXAS - When the words “Not Guilty” rang through the courtroom, Shonette “Mama Shon” Hill felt the weight of the world lift from her shoulders. Her grandson, Joseph Delancy, had endured an unimaginable trial—accused of a crime he did not commit, fighting against a system determined to make him a scapegoat. But through it all, Mama Shon stood firm, unwavering in her belief in Joseph’s innocence. With the love only a grandmother can give, she had been his rock, his shield, his fiercest defender. When others turned away, she remained. When doubt crept in, she stood taller. And when the verdict came, she held Joseph close—her faith and love carrying him through the storm. This was not just a victory for Joseph. It was a testament to a grandmother’s unbreakable love. A FIGHT FOR JUSTICE, ...
Read more

Aunt Liz the Angel: A Champion for the Six Triple Eight. By Pastor Kyev Tatum, Texas 6888th Project.

Image
Aunt Liz the Angel: A Champion for the Six Triple Eight. By Pastor Kyev Tatum, Founding Director, Texas 6888th Project. WASHINGTON, D.C. – On April 29, 2025, inside Emancipation Hall beneath the sacred shadow of the Capitol dome, the soul of America was stirred as our nation finally paused to say “thank you” to the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. That day, wrapped in dignity and destiny, the Congressional Gold Medal was placed upon their legacy. And standing at the center of this divine moment, like a hidden angel sent for such a time as this, was none other than Retired Master Sergeant Elizabeth Anne Helm-Frazier—known across our community, and to the cast of the Tyler Perry film, simply and lovingly as Aunt Liz. Let me say it plain: Aunt Liz is God’s gift to the memory of the Six Triple Eight. When the final living members of the battalion took her in, they said something Master Sgt. never forget: “Liz can’t do no wrong in our book.” And I declare today—neithe...
Read more

JUST A LITTLE RESPECT WHEN WE GET HOME: President and Mrs. George W. Bush Celebrate the Heroic Legacy of the 6888th.

Image
JUST A LITTLE RESPECT WHEN WE GET HOME: President and Mrs. George W. Bush Celebrate the Heroic Legacy of the 6888th:  https://www.youtube.com/live/ggYiNQ4b45g?si=avtQ8wO8Q2HCpIyb #RealRespect DALLAS, TEXAS - On February 12, 2025, the George W. Bush Presidential Center on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, hosted an extraordinary event honoring the trailblazing women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, affectionately known as the “Six Triple Eight.” This all-Black, all-female unit of the Women’s Army Corps made history during World War II by clearing a staggering 17 million-piece mail backlog in Europe, ensuring that American service members received their much-needed letters from home. Their dedication and efficiency not only boosted troop morale but also shattered racial and gender barriers of their time. In recognition of their extraordinary service, the battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022, the highest civilian ho...
Read more