Navy Surgeon General Visits Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Lewis Hunsaker, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

May 9, 2010 - BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (NNS) -- The Navy surgeon general spoke at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute May 6 as part of the 2010 Birmingham Navy Week.

The event kicked off a few hours earlier when Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson Jr. who is also the chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, received a tour from Ahmad Ward, head of Education for the institute. Ward explained the history of Birmingham and the civil rights movement.

"It was a great opportunity to face our history fully and clearly; yet, remember what has occurred in this country and Birmingham," Robinson said.

After his tour, Robinson talked to the staff of the institute about the U.S. Navy and thanked them for their selfless service to this city and nation.

"In this nation of immigrants and differences, this museum shows what Birmingham has gone through," Robinson said. "This institute underscores what we need to be, what we need to know and where we need to go as a nation."

Birmingham Navy Week is one of 20 Navy weeks planned across the country in 2010.

Navy weeks are designed to educate Americans about the importance of naval service, understand the investment they make in their Navy and to increase awareness in cities, which might not otherwise see the Navy at work on a regular basis.