Veterans Day is meant to honor service and sacrifice, but it also offers a chance to reckon with the complexity of that service, especially for Black Americans whose contributions have often been ignored or minimized.

As a younger man, I chose to overlook the story of a relative who had performed a remarkable service during World War II. When I asked my Aunt Sadie Belcher about her work history, she mentioned sorting mail for the military overseas. She spoke of it with a quiet pride that was beyond what you’d expect from a typical mailroom job. I didn’t press for more details then, and I should have. Instead, I peppered her with questions about her time as a cafeteria worker at Donna Summer’s high school. At the time, discovering how the future Queen of Disco liked her sloppy joes seemed far more important to a music-loving adolescent. 

Fortunately, I’ve all but shed that tendency to overlook the stories of those around me, in pursuit of musical footnotes and trivia. I never got the chance to hear about her service directly from my aunt. It wasn’t until years later that I learned who she really was and what she had done as a member of the 6888th, an all-female, mostly Black unit in the Women’s Army Corps sent overseas in 1945 to handle a backlog of undelivered mail for U.S. troops in Europe. 

Mail wasn’t just a treat — it was a lifeline. Soldiers stationed far from home could go weeks without hearing from family or friends, and it could crush their spirits. Think about how some of us panic when a text from a girlfriend or boyfriend never shows up. Now imagine that anxiety with the added weight of bullets flying and bombs falling. 

If you’re like I was back then and unfamiliar with their story, this passage from the Army’s Women’s Foundation website tells about what they were up against and how they met the challenge: 

 “When the 6888th arrived in Birmingham, England, in February 1945, they found floor-to-ceiling stacks of undelivered letters and parcels stored in cold warehouses with poor lighting. Some of the packages had only partial addresses, and some were intended for different individuals who had the same name. The unit created and maintained a system of roughly seven million cards to track service members and used serial numbers to distinguish the soldiers who had the same name. When a piece of mail was only partially addressed, they researched to try to find the soldier it was meant for. The WACs worked round the clock, organized in three eight-hour shifts. Before the 6888th arrived in theater, one general officer estimated it would take six months to clear the backlog in Birmingham; the Six Triple Eight accomplished it in three months.”

 The stories of that unit are surfacing now. Filmmaker Tyler Perry’s 2024 Netflix movie “The Six Triple Eight” finally gave visibility to the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. Also, recent books, such as “No Better Time: A Novel of the Spirited Women of the Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion” by Sheila Williams and “Six Triple Eight: The Remarkable Story of the 6888th Battalion and Their Untold Heroism in WWII” by Pat Breese, have provided other ways to engage with their story. 

Service isn’t always met with gratitude, and recognition can take decades — or even centuries. Too many veterans return home to neglect, dwindling benefits and a society quick to celebrate medals while ignoring inequity. Honoring them means more than flags and parades; it means learning their histories, understanding their struggles and making sure the next generation has our support. 

This month offers a chance to do that. On Saturday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m., the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia and the American Civil War Museum will host a discussion on Black military service. Experts will examine the lives and legacies of United States Colored Troops soldiers from Virginia. The event is free, but registration is required. It’s an opportunity to hear history in full and honor those too often overlooked