Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) spoke on the House Floor to honor Mrs. Romay Catherine Johnson Davis who, at the age of 102, is the oldest living member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the United States Army. Yesterday, on the 74th anniversary of the integration of the armed services, the 6888th Battalion was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor that Congress can bestow.

A video recording of Sewell’s remarks can be accessed and downloaded here. Her remarks are transcribed below.

Rep. Sewell: I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Romay Catherine Johnson Davis who was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for her extraordinary service to our nation as one of the women of the 6888th Postal Battalion during World War II.

At the age of 102, Mrs. Davis is the oldest living member of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion of the United States Army. Throughout World War II, this dedicated group of African American women sorted mail and care packages to maintain the morale of American soldiers stationed abroad.

Helping to sort 65,000 pieces of mail every shift, Mrs. Davis and her colleagues worked tirelessly to uphold the battalion’s motto: “no mail, low morale.”

Mrs. Davis is a trailblazer for African American women everywhere, and it is befitting that her award comes on the 74th anniversary of the integration of the Armed Services.

I was proud to vote in favor of the bill to award the 6888th Postal Battalion the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.

I ask my colleagues to join me and the Montgomery community in celebrating the extraordinary life and legacy of Mrs. Romay Catherine Johnson Davis.