June
7, 2013 - Roanoke VA - The 15th Annual African-American N&W Heritage
Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at the Virginia Museum of
Transportation. This annual event celebrates the significant and lasting impact
that African-Americans have made to the railroad and to the community.
Special activities will be held throughout the day at the Virginia Museum of
Transportation, including:
Visitors can try their hand at a locomotive training simulator at the Museum.
The simulator will be open for tours given by NS locomotive engineers from 10
am to 3 pm.
NS Archivist Jennifer McDaid will be on hand with a display of N&W and NS
history.
Norfolk Southern employees with ID and their immediate families will be
admitted free for the day. Regular admission applies to general Museum
visitors. The Museum will be open 10 am to 5 pm.
The Heritage Celebration Program will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and will
include the following activities:
· The evening program features Mr. Donne
W. Jones, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, Human Resources for Norfolk
Southern Corporation. Mr. Jones will speak about African-Americans'
contributions to railroads past and present and throughout the life of the
community.
· Music provided by the Shiloh Baptist
Church Gospel Chorus from Salem, Virginia.
· An annual scholarship will be awarded to
a local Virginia Western Community College student.
· A Silent Auction of original railroad
art by local artists will benefit the African-American N&W Heritage
Celebration Group and Rails of Color.
· Hors d'oeuvres will be served.
The evening program is free
to the public, but seating is limited. Please call 540.342.5670 for
reservations.
The event is sponsored by the African-American N&W Heritage Celebration
Group, Rails of Color, Norfolk Southern Corporation/Virginia Division, StellarOne
Bank, and the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
About the African-American N&W Heritage Celebration Group
The African-American N&W Heritage Celebration Group meets monthly at
the Virginia Museum of Transportation to preserve the stories and celebrate the
achievements of African-Americans who worked for the Norfolk & Western
Railway. One of the group's early achievements at the Museum is "African
American Heritage on the Norfolk & Western 1930-1970," an exhibit which
features a video of oral histories of railroad workers. William L. Withuhn,
Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian Institution, described the exhibit as "the
best exhibit on African-Americans on our U.S. railroads that I have seen
anywhere."
About Rails of Color
African-Americans played a vital role in the early development of our
railway systems, a role that continues today. In addition to African-American
contributions, many Irish, Chinese, and other ethnicities participated in the
building of the US rail system. Without the related rail inventions and
contributions by all of these groups, today's railway system would not be as
advanced as we know it today. To preserve this rich heritage and the knowledge
that so many diverse groups participated in the building of the Norfolk &
Western Railway, the group Rails of Color (ROC) was created in 2009.
ROC's mission is to educate, preserve, and promote NS' railroad diversity
through programs and partnering with other civic groups. The group highlights
the perspective of the minority employee by exploring and celebrating the past,
present and future of railroad employees of color, recording their stories,
efforts, successes and culture.
One of the group's main efforts is in youth development. ROC has initiated the
CABOOSE After School Program for middle school students at Jackson and
Breckinridge Middle Schools. ROC members tutor and mentor these students and
provide activities to aid their transitions to high school and beyond.
About the Virginia Museum of Transportation
Home to two of the most powerful steam locomotives in existence today-the
N&W Class A 1218 and the N&W Class J 611-the Virginia Museum of
Transportation regularly attracts visitors of all ages from across the U.S. and
around the world. Through exhibits, artifacts, and an outstanding collection of
rail equipment, cars, trucks, airplanes, and more, the Museum tells the rich
story of Virginia's transportation history.
The Virginia Museum of Transportation is the Official Transportation Museum of
the Commonwealth of Virginia, but receives no state funding. The Museum is
located in the historic N&W Freight Station at 303 Norfolk Avenue SW,
Roanoke, VA 24016. Open Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 1-5. 540/342.5670. www.vmt.org.
The 15th Annual African-American Railroad Norfolk & Western Heritage Celebration will be held on Saturday, June 22 at the Virginia Museum of Transportation
Saturday, June 8, 2013 3:00 AM by Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge