During Black History Month in February, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) proudly honors the military achievements and experiences of Black Americans. Last year, MDVA shared stories of two Black American Veterans in Minnesota, who both served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War era. Read more about updates on Jay Lowman and William E. Randolph.

Jay Lowman

A Resident of the Fergus Falls Veterans Home, Jay Lowman joined the Air Force in 1974 to fulfill a desire to serve his country. This drive impacted Jay’s younger siblings, and they followed his lead also joining the military.

After growing up in Reading, Pennsylvania, Jay enjoyed experiencing and photographing the many sights to see in Washington, D.C. while stationed there. This enjoyment proved especially beneficial when capturing images became part of his military assignment and later as he pursued a degree in architectural drafting using GI Bill benefits.

Jay considers photography a way to stay in touch with fellow service members and communicate with people. He says, “I worked as a photographer and photo lab tech. And I kept photography as a hobby after my service—photographing people, landscapes and animals.”

Celebrating Black History Month for Jay means learning more about the lives of Black heroes and their contributions and by taking a deeper dive into Black culture and history with activities offered at the Home.

Eryn Smith, Recreation Therapist Coordinator Supervisor at the Fergus Falls Veterans Home, says, “We strive to offer inclusive, resident-centered programming year-round, creating experiences that encourage learning, connection, and meaningful engagement for all of our Residents.”

Fergus Falls Residents can attend a documentary film screening of Standing in the Shadows of Motown, highlighting the influential Black musicians behind the iconic Motown sound and the hosted “Motown & More” Black History Trivia, offering a fun and interactive way to learn new facts and spark conversation. To further support learning, informative articles will be featured in the Home’s daily newspaper, paired with themed word searches allowing Residents to engage at their own pace. All the activities are designed to be both educational and enjoyable, while respecting individual interests and comfort levels.

William E. Randolph

William E. Randolph is a Resident of the Minneapolis Veterans Home. William joined the Air Force because, “I wanted to travel. I thought this would be the best way to see other places and countries.” Travel he did, including being stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany from 1967-1970, after starting service near his hometown of Cincinnati at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base from 1966-1967.

Reflecting on his time in the Air Force, William worked in security police and appreciates having the opportunity to learn more about himself as a global citizen. “Being around different men and having to learn how to react to certain situations gave me a better understanding of myself,” he said. “My military experience taught me how to get along with people of other cultures, races and interests.”

William doesn’t believe that being a Black American had an impact on his military experience, other than realizing the potential opportunities that existed. “I also had a master sergeant that I had a friendship with. He was a Black man. I recognized and respected his rank. It made me realize that nothing was impossible.”

Today, William continues to believe it’s important for people to respect each other. He says, “Those who are Black should be proud to be Black. God bless America.”

Minneapolis Recreation Therapy Director Shirlee Peterson says, “Our goal is to meet the needs and interests of all of our Veterans and spouses throughout the year by providing programming that not only meets their interests, but introduces them to new and different programs, speakers and community events that they may never have had the opportunity to experience before.”