With slow, precise movements, Marine Lance Cpl. Dorian D. Lindsey made his way down the aisle of Fort Gordon's Alexander Hall to the stage, where he stood and saluted an empty table.
The table was set in honor and memory of slain American service members.
As he saluted, the poignant tune of taps filled the quiet void at the beginning of Friday's Black History Month program.
Since the war began in Iraq and Afghanistan, 4,078 service members have died, 378 of them black. A slide show flashed many of their photographs on a large screen at the center of the stage, letting all who gathered know that their memories would not be forgotten.
Col. John W. Baker, the commander of the 35th Signal Brigade, called the event a day to "celebrate our diversity as we look at our history."
Black soldiers have made an impact at Fort Gordon. Olive Terrace, one of the housing areas on post, was named for Pfc. Milton L. Olive III, who threw himself onto a hand grenade in Vietnam to save the lives of four soldiers he hardly knew.
Sgt. Taurean T. Harris, of the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade's Task Force Lightning, died in August after being wounded by an improvised explosive device.
Keynote speaker Alfonzo Jackson, the president of the Colon-Dryden Greater Augusta chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., shared some of his struggles through a time of segregation.
"Dr. (Martin Luther) King had a dream. Dr. King went to the top of the mountain and saw the promised land. I am that dream," said Mr. Jackson, who was a Navy pilot. "I was only able to do that because of the ones whose shoulders I stood on. Now I lend my shoulders. Your tenacity to carry on is my thank you."
Reach Charmain Brackett at czbrackett@hotmail.com.
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