“For 40 or 50 years, we had a blot on these families. And if you think about what these soldiers lost. In spite of that handicap, they went back and were much bigger people than we were. Much bigger.”

“It will be this community saying, ‘That’s not us, and you are honorable people. In the Baptist tradition, we want to heal a wounded soul.”

“This is needed, especially where it happened.”

FROM:
“Old wrong in need of healing,”
by Nicole Brodeur, Seattle Times,
May 20, 2008

“I'm appreciative that they are hosting an event. But I am sorry that my father is not here to witness the process of clarifying the injustice.”

FROM:
“Bittersweet tribute to ex-soldiers,”
by Jonathan Martin, Seattle Times,
July 11, 2008

SEE ALSO:
Fort Lawton case: It's payback time
by Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial Board, June 20, 2008

Italian POW and rumors put to rest
by Nicole Brodeur, Seattle Times,
July 22, 2008

Apologies to black soldiers
by Seattle Times Editorial Board,
July 15, 2008

JOIN YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS ...

... in a series of tributes spanning four days, July 24-27. Help honor those who were part of the historic court-martial at Seattle's Fort Lawton, including:

• Public tributes to the U.S. Army veterans (and their families) whose convictions were overturned by the Army Board for Correction of Military Records, including military honors, memorials, gatherings, church services and the Seafair Torchlight Parade;

• A Catholic mass in honor of Private Guglielmo Olivotto, whose remains still rest at the Fort Lawton cemetery;

• Rememberances for those who served at Fort Lawton during the Army's largest and longest court-martial of World War II, including the members of the Italian Service Units based at the fort.

SPONSORED BY ...

Lane Powell | Eli Lilly | Federal Bar Association of Western Washington | Seattle University School of Law | Seattle Hotel Association | National Association of Black Veterans | Ezell's Famous Chicken | Tabor 100 | Rotary Club of Mercer Island | Rotary Club of West Seattle | Greater Seattle Chapter of the Links, Inc. | Catherine Walker & David Fuqua | Lem Howell | SOS Foundation | Seattle/King County NAACP | Rotary Club of Ballard | Rotary Club of Vashon Island | Clise Hotels | Executive Inn | Loyal Inn | Eighth Avenue Inn | Fairmont Olympic Hotel | Executive Hotel Pacific | Hotel Nexus | Red Lion Hotel | Ed Lagerquist | Obsidian Investment Advisors

YOU CAN HELP ...

Tabor 100, a Pacific Northwest Association of African-American businesspeople and entrepreneurs, is facilitating tax-deductable contributions to help bring the Fort Lawton veterans and their families to Seattle in July.

King County Executive Ron Sims and the City of Seattle's Parks & Recreation Department will seek volunteers to assist with public events.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS ...

THURSDAY, JULY 24

5:00 | Pigott Auditorium | Seattle University
Symposium: Race, Justice & the Military
video: Setting the Record Straight (30 min), Robert Mak, KING-TV
panel: Margaret Chon, Seattle University School of Law (moderator); James Bible, Seattle/King County NAACP; Major General Timothy Lowenberg, US Army JAG; Professor Robert Chang, SU School of Law; Gabriel Brooks, National Association of Black Veterans; Jack Hamann, author, On American Soil
6:30 | Pigott Atrium | Seattle University
Reception
7:30 | Chapel of St. Ignatius | Seattle University
Mass in memory of Pvt. Guglielmo Olivotto, presided by Fr. Stephen Sundborg, S.J., SU president [SEATING CAPACITY OF CHAPEL: 250]

FRIDAY, JULY 25

5:00 | Northwest African American Museum
Tour of museum for Ft. Lawton veterans and family members
6:00 | Northwest African American Museum
Gala dinner honoring Ft. Lawton veterans and family members, featuring speakers and entertainment by Quiet Fire [BY INVITATION]

SATURDAY, JULY 26

10:00 | Parade Grounds [Chapel] | Discovery Park
Ceremony: Restoring Honor
US Army presentation of belated honorable discharges
Speakers: Vivian Phillips (MC), US Rep. Jim McDermott, King Co. Executive Ron Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, King Co. Councilman Larry Gossett, Booker Townsell granddaughter Lashell Drake, Assistant Secretary of the US Army Ronald J. James, On American Soil author Jack Hamann [also invited: Gov. Chris Gregoire, US Sen. Patty Murray, US Sen. Maria Cantwell]
Entertainment: US Army Band, DaNell Daymon and Royalty Gospel Choir
12:00 | Parade Grounds [Chapel] | Discovery Park
Community Picnic
Food catered by Ezell's Famous Chicken and Jones BBQ, with Talking Rain
Entertainment
7:30 | Downtown Seattle
Seafair Torchlight Parade
in convertibles: Mr. & Mrs. Samuel & Margaret Snow
in grandstands: family members

SUNDAY, JULY 27

morning | Local Churches [TBA]
Worship Services
Fort Lawton veterans and family members join regularly-schedule Sunday services

“I hope that we can put a memorial on the Fort Lawton site to teach future generations about the sacrifices made by Booker Townsell, Sam Snow, and others, and to remind us that we must never forget that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

-Rep. Jim McDermott