The Institute for Black Military Heritage. Isaiah 4:21-22



THE INSTITUTE FOR BLACK MILITARY HERITAGE Stories Worth Saluting | Isaiah 4:21–22 | New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church 2864 Mississippi Avenue Fort Worth, Texas 76104 | Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr. Founding Director 



OUR MISSION

To preserve, protect, and promote the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for future generations through education, commemoration, and community engagement.



VISION STATEMENT

To become one of the Black Church’s foremost authorities and educational beacons on the contributions of Black military service members—elevating untold stories and empowering new generations with a heritage of resilience, courage, and excellence rooted in Faith and Fortitude.



WHY THE BLACK CHURCH?

The Black Church was intentionally chosen to house the Institute for Black Military Heritage because of its historical, spiritual, and strategic role as the heartbeat of Black freedom movements. Free from governmental restrictions, regulations, and roadblocks, the Black Church remains the only institution in our community capable of unapologetically integrating faith, freedom, and fortitude into its programming.


Here, we honor not only military might—but the moral mission behind the service of our people. This sacred space enables us to preserve our Black Military Heritage with the spiritual integrity and cultural authenticity it deserves.



CORE PILLARS OF THE INSTITUTE


1. Preservation

• Archival Repository: Build a digital and physical archive of documents, photos, uniforms, letters, oral histories, medals, and sacred artifacts.

• Historical Restoration Projects: Partner nationally to restore sites like Buffalo Soldier barracks, Tuskegee training grounds, and the 6888th’s European posts.

• Veteran Oral History Program: Record and preserve the voices of Black veterans and their descendants.


2. Education

• K–12 Curriculum Development: Create lesson plans that promote historical literacy and pride through the lens of Black military excellence.

• University & Seminary Partnerships: Work with HBCUs, academies, and theological schools to expand research and leadership development.

• Annual Lecture Series: Host transformative talks by thought leaders, veterans, descendants, and historians.


3. Promotion

• National Awareness Campaigns: Use storytelling, public exhibits, and digital media to uplift untold legacies.

• Heritage Tours: Lead educational excursions to sites like Fort Huachuca and the burial grounds of the 6888th.

• Commemorative Events: Launch “Black Military Heritage Month” and events like Wreath-Laying Ceremonies, Living History Days, and Salute Sundays in Black churches.


4. Empowerment

• Youth Cadet Corps: Establish leadership programs based on Buffalo Soldier and Tuskegee Airmen values.

• Veteran Transition Assistance: Offer mentorship, spiritual support, and healing spaces for modern Black veterans.

• Legacy Scholarships: Provide scholarships to descendants of Black veterans in fields such as history, theology, and public service.




KEY STORIES WORTH SALUTING


The Buffalo Soldiers

Formed in 1866, these Black cavalry and infantry regiments served valiantly on the Western frontier and beyond, laying the foundation for future military excellence amid racism and resistance.


The Tuskegee Airmen

America’s first Black military pilots and ground crews, the Tuskegee Airmen shattered stereotypes and dominated the skies in WWII, becoming one of the war’s most respected fighter groups.


The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

The only all-Black, all-female unit deployed overseas in WWII. These women processed over 17 million pieces of mail under grueling conditions, revolutionizing military logistics and morale.




SCRIPTURAL ANCHOR


Isaiah 4:21–22 (poetically reimagined)

“In that day, the faithful shall stand as a banner for the remnant. Their legacy shall not be forgotten; their righteousness shall be their remembrance.”


These unsung warriors are a living testimony to God’s grace and guidance in times of trial. Their stories are sacred scrolls—Stories Worth Saluting.





STRATEGIC INITIATIVES


• Letters from the Frontline: A literary and exhibition project transforming real wartime letters into dynamic teaching tools.

• From Segregation to Salute: A documentary series spotlighting the journey of Black military units through a spiritual and civic lens.

• The Honor Wall: A traveling memorial displaying names, faces, and stories of lesser-known Black servicemembers, hosted in churches and schools.




PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS


• U.S. Army Center of Military History

• National Museum of African American History & Culture

• Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association

• Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

• Women in Military Service for America Memorial

• The National Baptist Convention, USA

• African Methodist Episcopal Church

• The Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas




MOTTO


“Stories Worth Saluting”

Because some stories don’t just deserve to be told—they deserve to be remembered, reverenced, and raised in sacred honor.




ABOUT THE FOUNDING DIRECTOR


Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

Founding Director, Institute for Black Military Heritage


Pastor Kyev Tatum, Sr. is a nationally recognized civil rights leader, community historian, and prophetic voice for justice, equity, and truth. With over four decades of experience in ministry, public policy, and grassroots mobilization, Pastor Tatum has dedicated his life to preserving the legacy of the African American struggle for freedom—both spiritual and civic.


A native son of Fort Worth, Texas, and the Senior Pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Tatum is known for his work uplifting overlooked stories and underserved communities. He serves as President of the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas and has led numerous initiatives to bridge the sacred and the civic, including the Texas 6888th Project, the Black Land in White Hands Campaign, and Farm Fort Worth—an urban food justice movement.


As the visionary behind the Institute for Black Military Heritage, Pastor Tatum felt divinely compelled to ensure that the valor of the Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion is honored with both biblical reverence and historical accuracy. He views these warriors not only as defenders of democracy, but as disciples of divine duty, whose lives were prophetic acts of faith in a nation that didn’t yet believe in them.


Pastor Tatum intentionally rooted the Institute in the Black Church, the last independent institution in the Black community with the spiritual and institutional freedom to teach history from a faith-forward perspective. Under his leadership, the Institute boldly integrates education, commemoration, and empowerment into a legacy worthy of sacred memory.


For more information contact 817-966-7625, kptatum1@gmail.com, www.newmountrose.com


“Their service wasn’t just patriotic—it was prophetic.” — Pastor Kyev Tatum


For Pastor Tatum, Stories Worth Saluting is not merely a motto—it is his ministry, his movement, and his God-ordained mandate.


⸻


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