Join Commonpoint Queens in partnership with the National Museum of the United States Army for 4 new programs! All programs are free and registration is limited.
Classes will be held virtually and zoom links will be sent closer to the program dates.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Sivan Ben-Aderet at sbenaderet@commonpointqueens.org or 718-423-6111.
Defining "American": Native American Soldiers in World War I and the Path to Citizenship
Thursday, February 16th at 12PM/ET
Participants will engage with the Army’s history through artifacts, primary sources, and Soldiers’ Stories. From the Revolutionary War and through present day, American Indians have proudly served the U.S. Army often without recognition or the benefits of citizenship. During World War I, nearly 12,000 indigenous Soldiers served in the armed forces with distinction. Their actions to protect the nation focused attention on disparities among indigenous Americans and paved the way for all indigenous people to enjoy the promise of American citizenship.
The Accomplishment of the ENIAC and the Women Computing Pioneers
Thursday, February 23rd at 12PM/ET
Discover how a talented group of female mathematicians laid the groundwork for the field of computer programming. Winning World War II required an all-out effort. Thousands of women on the home front answered their country’s call to join the military, industry, and the civil service. In 1943, the U.S. Army recruited seven women mathematicians to set up and operate the Army’s newest top secret weapon: the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC). These unsung heroes wired the electrical connections that enabled the world’s first electronic, digital computer to complete 300 calculations per second. In doing so, they built a framework for the field of computer programming.
Making A Way Out of No Way: African American Soldiers in World War II
Thursday, March 2nd at 12PM/ET
Generations of African Americans have served their country, many serving in segregated units and not always given the respect and honor due to them. Although African Americans fought with distinction in World War II, they returned home to a segregated America. In 1948, President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981, which called for equal opportunity for all members of the Armed Forces. The segregated Army became a thing of the past and the segregation of American society began to crumble.
Fighting for Freedom: Nisei Soldiers and World War II
Wednesday March 8th at 12PM/ET
Second generation Japanese Americans, known as Nisei, demanded the right to join the armed forces during World War II. On February 9, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the relocation of Japanese Americans living on the west coast. 122,000 men, women, and children were sent to incarceration camps throughout the United States. Further, the government classified males of Japanese ancestry as enemy aliens. This classification disqualified them from military service. The Army later loosened this restriction in June 1942. Despite the odds, thousands of Nisei Soldiers bravely served in World War II. Participants will explore the commitment, challenges, and sacrifices of the Nisei Soldiers.
The National Museum of the United States Army provides the only comprehensive portrayal of Army history and traditions through the eyes of the American Soldier. Through preserving, interpreting, and exhibiting invaluable artifacts, the National Army Museum creates learning opportunities for all visitors and bonds the American people to their oldest military service. The National Museum of the United States Army celebrates over 245 years of Army history and honors our nation's soldiers - past, present, and future - the regular Army, the Army Reserve, and the Army National Guard. 