Black History Month

Vincent Patton III served as the eighth master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard from 1998-2002.

Montel Williams enlisted in the Marines and served in the Navy before becoming a television host and motivational speaker.

After combat missions over Vietnam, Col. Guion S. Bluford Jr. flew on to become America's first Black astronaut.

Gen. Colin Powell, a son of Jamaican immigrants, rose to the top of the U.S. military.

The Tuskegee Airmen and the Montford Point Marines made significant contributions to the U.S. military.

"The more we know about our history, the more likely we are to learn from past mistakes and benefit from lessons learned,"...

The first African American in Union uniform, Nick Biddle was also the first man wounded in the Civil War.

Viewers can see for themselves the inner toughness that enabled her to be a pioneer despite all the challenges.

Though not depicted in the 1989 film "Glory," Col. Robert Shaw carried the "Rolls-Royce of Swords."

As part of the exhibition, the museum is launching a campaign to preserve the individual stories of the African American men.