6th Cavalry Museum’s ‘The 6888th in Fort Oglethorpe’ virtual exhibit opening is Feb. 25
The 6th Cavalry Museum continues its recognition of Black History Month with the virtual opening of “The 6888th in Fort Oglethorpe” exhibit about the only allfemale, all-african American Women’s Army Corps (WAC) unit to serve overseas during World War II.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion completed its extended field service training at Fort Oglethorpe then deployed to Birmingham, England, in February 1945. Their assignment was to clear a two-year backlog of mail in the European Theater of war. The 855 members of the battalion were given six months to clear the backlog. Working round the clock in triple shifts, the women accomplished their task in three months, then were sent to Rouen, France and then Paris to continue processing mail.
The museum received a $28,000 African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund grant to commemorate and educate the public about the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion in April 2020. The grant is a portion of the $14 million African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund. The 6th Cavalry Museum was one of 51 projects across 20 states and the District of Columbia that was funded in 2020. Projects will preserve sites and history related to the African American struggle for equality in the 20th century.
The Zoom virtual opening is Thursday, Feb. 25 from 7-8 p m.
Guest panelists for the virtual opening include Colonel U.S. Army (Retired) Edna Cummings, producer of Lincoln Penny Films’ “The Six-triple-eight” documen
tary. Col. Cummings will be joined by 6th Cavalry Museum Director Chris MCKeever and exhibit curator Molly Sampson.
Registration is free and available through Eventbrite. The exhibit opens to the public on Friday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m.
The four education video topics are Origins of the WAC, The Fight for Overseas Service, Training at Fort Oglethorpe, and Overseas Service in the 6888th. The videos were produced by Louis Lee’s production company L2IMages, with local actress Shonda Bryant portraying Mary, a member of the 6888th, as she writes home to tell her parents about her experience at Fort Oglethorpe and England.
The public can learn more about the “6888th in Fort Oglethorpe” exhibit and education program by visiting the 6th Cavalry Museum website or calling 706-861-2860.
Thursday, Feb. 18
The Catoosa County Conservation District, in partnership with the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission, is hosting a Level 1A Fundamentals Renewal Course on Thursday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. to noon at The Colonnade at 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold. Anyone involved in land development, design, review, permitting, construction, monitoring, inspection, or any land-disturbing activity in Georgia must meet education requirements and be certified by the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission program developed in consultation with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division and the Stakeholder Advisory Board. This four-hour course is approved by the Georgia Soil & Water Conservation Commission to renew Level 1A (blue card). There is no test. Upon completion of the course, certifications will be renewed for three years. The cost for the course is $125 and includes textbook. Register by Feb. 9 to Sofia Rudakevych, district program assistant, at 937-218-1073 or email sofia. rudakevych@gacd.us. Please note: Registration is limited to 16 learners due to pandemic protocols. Conservation
Districts are special-purpose units of state government that manage local natural resource concerns. Georgia’s 40 Conservation Districts cover every county throughout the state. For more information about the Catoosa County Conservation District, visit www.catoosaconservationdistrict.org.
Thursday, Feb. 25
The 6th Cavalry Museum continues its recognition of Black History Month with the virtual opening of “The 6888th in Fort Oglethorpe” exhibit about the only allfemale, all-african American Women’s Army Corps (WAC) unit to serve overseas during World War II. The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion completed its extended field service training at Fort Oglethorpe then deployed to Birmingham, England, in February 1945. Their assignment was to clear a two-year backlog of mail in the European Theater of war. The 855 members of the battalion were given six months to clear the backlog. Working round the clock in triple shifts, the women accomplished their task in three months, then were sent to Rouen, France and then Paris to continue processing mail. The Zoom virtual opening is Thursday, Feb. 25 from 7-8 p m. Guest panelists for the virtual opening include Colonel U.S. Army (Retired) Edna Cummings, producer of Lincoln Penny Films’ “The Six-triple-eight” documentary. Col. Cummings will be joined by 6th Cavalry Museum Director Chris Mckeever and exhibit curator Molly Sampson. Registration is free and available through Eventbrite. The exhibit opens to the public on Friday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m. The four education video topics are Origins of the WAC, The Fight for Overseas Service, Training at Fort Oglethorpe, and Overseas Service in the 6888th. The videos were produced by Louis Lee’s production company L2images, with local actress Shonda Bryant portraying Mary, a member of the 6888th, as she writes home to tell her parents about her experience at Fort Oglethorpe and England. For more information about the “6888th in Fort Oglethorpe” exhibit and education program, go online to the 6th Cavalry Museum website or call 706-861-2860.
Sunday, Feb. 28
Following strict pandemic safety protocols, the Obedience Club of Chattanooga’s next session of Obedience,
Rally, Agility, Scent Work, (a new class), and Canine Good Citizen classes for puppies and dogs will begin on Monday, March 1. Sign up online or come to open house at 1:30 p.m. to register on Sunday, Feb. 28, and orientation for classes from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Bring your dog’s current shot records, including Bordetella. Please, no dogs at registration/orientation unless you plan to take the Canine Good Citizen Test and/or Trick Dog Test, which each cost $15. Immediately after orientation there will be demonstrations of obedience, rally obedience, and beginner agility on the agility field as well as the Canine Good Citizen Test and Trick Dog Test. Don’t forget to bring current shot records, including Bordetella, and $15 for each test. To sign up for classes or for more information about classes, please visit the club’s website at occclub. org or call 423-463-0288.
Wednesday, March 3
Parents of 4-year-old children who live in Catoosa County may enter their child’s name in the drawing for the lotteryfunded Georgia prekindergarten classes through March 3. The Request for Enrollment Form is available at all primary and elementary schools in Catoosa County (8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and may also be completed at the Student Enrollment Center at 108 High Street in Ringgold, Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed for lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 pm). A public drawing to award available Pre-k assignments will be held virtually on the Catoosa County Public Schools’ website on Thursday, April 15, at 9 a.m. Parents or legal guardians who would like to have their child’s name entered in the drawing must complete and return a Request for Enrollment Form between Feb. 1 and March 3. Any request received after March 3 will be placed on the school system’s waiting list after the lottery drawing is completed.
Pre-k enrollment is open and nondiscriminatory, based on a public lottery among those eligible to participate. Children will not be denied participation on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. Eligibility: Currently, a child must be born between Sept. 2, 2016, and Sept. 1, 2017, to be eligible for Georgia Pre-k services, and the child must be a Catoosa County resident at the time of the drawing. Georgia residents outside of Catoosa County will be placed on a waiting list until all children within the district are enrolled.
GENERAL
♦ MANSION TOURS The Friends of the GordonLee Mansion March 2021 tour dates have been canceled due to rescheduling by the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum. The Friends plan to open the Mansion for Chickamauga Turn passengers on April 10, 17, and 24 from noon to 2 p.m. for train passengers and any other visitors wishing to tour. Tours are $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12. Volunteers are needed. If interested, contact Debbie at 423-903-5168 or Gary at 423-488-0861.