Warren G. Moses History Lecture: Retired Army Colonel Edna Cummings

Colonel Cummings was the first Black woman to graduate from Appalachian State University’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. She went on to earn a master’s degree in the Foundations of Education from Troy State University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. After a distinguished 25-year career in the Army, which included assignments at Georgetown University and the Pentagon, Colonel Cummings held multiple leadership positions and managed homeland security and information technology initiatives. She now serves as the Vice President of Windsor Group. In 2021 she was appointed as the Army Reserve Ambassador for Maryland, a position that is equivalent to a military two-star general.

 

Colonel Cummings research and advocacy has shined a light on the work of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, whose members were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022. The “Six Triple Eight,” a predominantly Black, multi-ethnic battalion of the Women's Army Corps in World War II, distinguished themselves by eliminating backlogs of over 17 million pieces of accumulated mail intended for American soldiers fighting in the UK and France. The importance of their work is evident in their motto, “No mail, low morale,” and their success made other soldiers’ war participation more bearable.

 

Colonel Cummings has earned numerous accolades for her work, including being recognized as a National Changemaker by the Military Officers Association of America, the recipient of the NAACP’s Jesse Brown Distinguished Leadership Award, recipient of The Daughters of American Revolution Medal of Honor, amongst others. Her highest military award is the Defense Superior Service Medal.

 

You can learn more about Colonel Cummings in her award-winning memoir, A Soldier's Life: A Black Woman's Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion, which chronicles the story of her military journey and successful campaign to honor the Six Triple Eight battalion with the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

 

Within her remarks to students, Colonel Cummings spoke to the importance of storytelling and the integral role it plays within history. “There are so many untold stories,” Cummings said. “There is great value in understanding your family’s legacy and what it’s taken for them to achieve their goals. Continue to talk to people that have great stories – talk to your family and people you know. There are so many treasures and hidden stories that can be transformative if they are shared.”

 

“If you plant great seeds of knowledge, you will be amazed at how they grow, not only personally but also within your community,” Colonel Cummings went on to share.

 

An integral part of the lecture series is the Moses Scholars Competition. Inspired by the work of our guest speaker, the Moses essay prompt challenged students to identify other forgotten but well-deserving heroes, specifically an individual or group who have been under-recognized for their contributions to our nation and its progress, as well as how to best recognize and remember them in the future.

 

Nearly 40 members of the Junior class participated, and they offered several impassioned calls to recognize an impressive array of overlooked heroes, including individuals such as Bayard Rustin, Claudette Colvin, Benjamin Lay, and groups such as the Black Seminole Scouts, the Chinese immigrants who built much of our nation’s railroads, equality advocates for women, the disabled, and the LGBTQ+ community, as well as many more. This year’s submissions demonstrated sincere interest, earnest reflection, and an appreciation for those other heroes who have been too often overlooked. We thank everyone who participated for their hard work and their recognition of those who deserve much more of it.

 

The winners, as chosen by members of the Newman History Department, were:

Honorable Mention: Maddox Bazley, Dylan Carey, Alex Chandler, and Ren Guidry

Second Prize: Amelia Claverie and Felicity Drake

First Prize: Maryn Huber

We are grateful to the Moses family for making this event possible.