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Service, Legacy, and the Fight for Recognition: An afternoon with Retired Army Colonel Edna Cummings
August 22 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm Eastern
Join us for an afternoon with Col. Cummings, author of A Soldier’s Life, A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion. She raised funds for a monument, co-produced two documentaries, and spearheaded the nation’s highest civilian award, the Congressional Gold Medal, for the World War II all-Black Women’s Army Corps unit, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion known as “The Six Triple Eight” (pictured).
Drawing on her decades of military service and the experiences chronicled in her book, Colonel Cummings will explore the power of storytelling as a vehicle for honor and remembrance. She will speak candidly about leadership, sacrifice, and what it truly means to serve — from the challenges faced by women and minorities in the Armed Forces to the enduring bonds forged in uniform. Her story is one of resilience, purpose, and unwavering commitment to duty.
With guaranteed admission for veterans and their loved ones, this workshop features a 60-minute lecture followed by 30 minutes of Q&A with the participants.
About the Instructor
Edna W. Cummings is a retired United States Army colonel, advocate, and author. She was the first Black woman to graduate from Appalachian State University’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.
Cummings served in the Army for 25 years. After her retirement, she held various leadership positions and managed homeland security and information technology initiatives for federal contractors. In 2021, she was appointed as the Army Reserve Ambassador for Maryland, a position that is equivalent to a two-star general in the military.
Cummings led efforts to enact the legislation that awarded the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, a predominantly-Black multi-ethnic battalion of the Women’s Army Corps, with a Congressional Gold Medal.
Cummings is the author of A Soldier’s Life: A Black Woman’s Rise from Army Brat to Six Triple Eight Champion, published by the University of Virginia Press. Learn more on her website.