HOPE IN AN ENVELOPE AT THE TEXAS CAPITOL. Under the Hot Texas Sun, 44 Yellow Roses Bloom in Honor of the Six Triple Eight.

HOPE IN AN ENVELOPE AT THE TEXAS CAPITOL. Under the Hot Texas Sun, 44 Yellow Roses Bloom in Honor of the Six Triple Eight.

Celebrating Charity at the Capitol. 

AUSTIN, TEXAS | May 22, 2025 — Beneath a searing Texas sun and the shadow of the Capitol dome, a historic reckoning unfolded as Texans gathered to honor a long-overlooked battalion of World War II heroes: the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion—known as the “Six Triple Eight.” A crowd of dignitaries, descendants, students, and supporters stood in reverent unity as 44 Yellow Roses from Texas bloomed in tribute, each flower representing the quiet resilience and radiant strength of the African American and Latina women who served in the only all-Black and Latina, all-female unit to be deployed overseas during the war.

The ceremony, held just weeks after the national Congressional Gold Medal recognition in Washington, D.C. on April 29, was more than a moment of remembrance—it was a movement of honor, history, and healing.

Led by Excellence: The Six Triple Eight and Major Charity Adams

Commanded by the brilliant and unflinching Major Charity Adams, the 6888th was comprised of 855 courageous African American and Latina women from across the United States. In 1945, they were dispatched to England and later to France to tackle a Herculean task: over 17 million pieces of backlogged mail threatening the morale and communication of U.S. forces and their loved ones.

Working in three round-the-clock shifts under wartime conditions—and against the twin enemies of racial prejudice and gender discrimination—the Six Triple Eight completed in three months what was expected to take six. Their motto, “No Mail, Low Morale,” became their mission—and their triumph. With every letter sorted, every package delivered, these women offered hope in an envelope, proving that duty and dignity transcend every barrier.

When Doves Fly: Honoring the Fallen.

The ceremony’s most sacred moment came during the “When Doves Fly” tribute, a dove release honoring the three members of the 6888th who lost their lives in service on July 8, 1945. First held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., this Texas release unfolded at the Texas African American History Memorial. As the doves took flight, they carried with them the spirit of remembrance, rising toward a future forever changed by the women who served with valor.

A Mother’s Legacy Lives On: The Words of Stelena Hooper Evans

Mrs. Stelena Hooper Evans, daughter of PFC Mildred Gates Hooper—a Six Triple Eight veteran and talented basketball player—offered heartfelt reflections. Her mother’s journey symbolized the hidden histories of many Black women in uniform: invisible to the headlines but central to the mission. Her story was not only personal; it was collective—a living testament to resilience, excellence, and generational pride.

The National Association of Black Military Women: Telling HerStory

Central to this national and state-level recognition is the National Association of Black Military Women (NABMW)—an enduring sisterhood of African American women who have served or are serving in the United States Armed Forces. Founded in 1976 by PFC Gladys Carter and 20 other trailblazing veterans in Hampton, Virginia, the organization began as a gathering of former WAACs and WACs from the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam eras.

Their first reunion in 1978 was held in Dallas, Texas—an early indication that the Lone Star State would always hold a special place in this history. Today, NABMW continues its mission:

“To seek out, record, maintain, and tell the history and heritage of African American military women who served and are serving in the United States Armed Forces.”

With the motto “To Tell HerStory” and the theme “Invisible to Visible Warriors…Living the Dream,” NABMW is ensuring that these women are no longer footnotes—they are front-page legacies.

The Texas 6888th Project: From Fort Worth to the Nation’s Capital

A passionate champion of the statewide tribute is the Texas 6888th Project, founded in 2022 by Fort Worth native, civil rights leader, and pastor, Kyev Tatum. The project began as a local initiative but quickly grew into a national force, building bridges from Fort Sam Houston to the halls of Congress. The Texas 6888th Project has launched educational campaigns, traveling exhibits, youth programs, public policy initiatives, and memorial tributes across the country.

A centerpiece of the initiative is Little Miss 6888th—a youth ambassador program designed to teach young girls about the strength, sacrifice, and sisterhood of the Six Triple Eight. These ambassadors serve as storytellers and torchbearers, carrying the legacy forward into schools, churches, museums, and legislative chambers.

Working through Black Texans, Inc., the project continues to preserve and elevate the stories of Black and Latina women in the military, ensuring that their names are etched into the collective memory of America.

About Pastor Kyev Tatum

Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr. is the founding director of the Texas 6888th Project and Little Miss 6888th. A native of Fort Worth, Texas, Pastor Tatum is a civil rights historian, community organizer, and the President of the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas. He serves as the Pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church and has spent over four decades amplifying under-heard Black histories across the state of Texas.

A student leader turned statewide advocate, Tatum has collaborated with the Texas NAACP, the Texas Buffalo Soldiers Association, and the University of Texas at Arlington’s Special Collections to bring visibility to the voices and valor of African American communities. Through the Texas 6888th Project, he has championed the passage of commemorative resolutions, organized state and national tributes, and inspired a new generation of Texans to remember and rise.

Texans Together: A Legacy Reclaimed

They came from Houston, San Antonio, Killeen, Fort Worth, and beyond—descendants, historians, advocates, and schoolchildren united in one common mission: to honor the women who carried our hopes in envelopes across oceans and enemy lines. The staff of Representative Harold Dutton—particularly the diligent and dedicated Mary Fontenot—orchestrated an event as dignified as the women it celebrated.

Special recognition also goes to:

• Representative Harold Dutton, for sponsoring the resolution

• Representative Ron Reynolds, former Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus

• Chairman Ramon Romero, Mexican American Legislative Caucus

• Representative Terry Meza, a consistent advocate for Latina inclusion

• The National Association of Black Military Women, guardians of HerStory

• The Texas NAACP

• The Lone Star Dove Lady

• Cobb Elementary School, Houston—young scholars who witnessed history come alive.

We also proudly recognize the Latina members of the 6888th, whose bravery has too long gone unspoken. Their contributions form a vital thread in the rich tapestry of American military service.

A Texas Truth: Their Legacy Is Our Legacy

On this day, as the Capitol grounds were adorned with 44 yellow roses and doves soared into the sun, the legacy of the Six Triple Eight was no longer hidden in the shadows. It rose like a banner, bold and bright, reminding us all that “No Mail, Low Morale” wasn’t just a motto—it was a mission that changed lives and lifted a nation.

May we never forget the women who delivered hope under fire, and may we always rise to carry their courage forward.

Long live the legacy of the 6888th. Long live HerStory.