When Doves Fly at the Texas Capitol: Honoring the Six Triple Eight at the Texas Capitol on May 22 at 3 PM. By Black Texans, Inc.

When Doves Fly at the Texas Capitol: Honoring the Six Triple Eight at the Texas Capitol on May 22 at 3 PM. By Black Texans, Inc.

AUSTIN, TX — On Thursday, May 22, 2025, the skies above the Texas Capitol will do more than welcome a spring breeze—they will lift a legacy. At exactly 3:00 PM, white doves will soar over the African American History Memorial in tribute to a group of American heroes whose service helped shape history: the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

Titled “Hope in an Envelope: When Doves Fly at the Texas Capitol,” this commemorative ceremony honors the only all-Black, all-female battalion to serve overseas during World War II—a unit composed of over 850 courageous women, including more than 40 from Texas, affectionately known as the Yellow Roses of Texas.

Hosted by the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas, in collaboration with Black Texans, Inc. and The Texas 6888th Project, this powerful gathering will shine a long-overdue spotlight on a battalion whose tireless efforts were buried under decades of historical silence.

“As the doves ascend into the sky, they carry the memory of women who shattered racial and gender barriers with grace, grit, and dignity,” says Pastor Kyev Tatum, President of the Ministers Justice Coalition and founder of The Texas 6888th Project. “Their journey was not just across oceans—it was into the heart of American resilience. And they delivered hope, one envelope at a time.”

A Ceremony of Healing, Honor, and Heritage

The ceremony will feature reflections by state leaders, descendants of the battalion, civic leaders, veterans, and youth ambassadors, culminating in a symbolic three-dove release by LoneStar White Dove. The three doves will honor PFC Mary H. Bankston, PFC Mary J. Barlow, and PFC Dolores M. Browne—members of the 6888th who tragically lost their lives in a Jeep accident in France. These three women are among only four women buried at the Normandy American Cemetery, alongside more than 9,000 men.

Their flight represents healing, hope, and honor—the very values the 6888th embodied.

Another emotional moment will spotlight the 44 heroic women from Texas who served in the battalion. These daughters of the Lone Star State—our Yellow Roses—wore their uniforms with pride and purpose, making history on foreign soil and right here at home.

The event will also introduce Little Miss 6888th, a young ambassador representing the next generation, carrying forward the battalion’s timeless motto:

“No Mail, Low Morale.”

Statewide Recognition from the Texas House

Earlier that same day, at 10:00 AM, the Texas House of Representatives will formally adopt a House Resolution commemorating the service and sacrifice of the 6888th, affirming Texas’s commitment to rewriting these heroic women into our collective memory.

A Growing Movement of Remembrance

This Capitol ceremony marks the second major installment in the national “When Doves Fly” remembrance series. The inaugural event took place on April 30, 2025, at the Martin Luther King Jr. Stone of Hope Memorial in Washington, D.C., where over 200 young leaders gathered to honor the 80th anniversary of the fallen members of the 6888th.

Each event is more than a tribute—it’s part of a movement to restore the names, faces, and contributions of Black women to their rightful place in American history.

Meet the Six Triple Eight

Formed in 1945, the 6888th was dispatched to Europe to tackle a seemingly impossible task: sorting and delivering more than 17 million pieces of mail in war-torn conditions, ensuring soldiers far from home could feel a touch of love and connection.

They worked around the clock in unheated, dim warehouses, overcoming overwhelming odds. Yet they finished their mission in half the expected time, proving once again that excellence knows no color, no gender—only purpose.

While they battled discrimination abroad and at home, their contributions were largely ignored for decades. But in 2022, the United States Congress finally awarded them the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the nation. Their legacy has since been magnified by the 2024 Netflix film “The Six Triple Eight” and celebrated at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in February 2025.

A Call to Action

This historic event is free and open to the public. Veterans, educators, students, historians, church members, and community leaders from across Texas are encouraged to attend and help lift this moment into the light it deserves.

By honoring the legacy of the Six Triple Eight, “Hope in an Envelope: When Doves Fly at the Texas Capitol” doesn’t just remember history—it reshapes it for generations to come.

🕊️ For more information or to RSVP, contact:

Pastor Kyev Tatum

📧 kptatum1@gmail.com | 📞 817-966-7625

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