DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN MOVED TO JANUARY 27, 2019, 3-5 PM.
We are pleased to have Emmy Award winner, Dolores N. Morris present to speak to us about her book, The Soldier That Wagged Her Tail – A Black Veteran’s Story of WWII, which chronicles her father William A. Morris Jr.’s wartime experiences with his dog, Trixie, by his side. “A little Terrier mutt dad found in England just before D Day,” she writes in the book’s introduction, “[Trixie] stayed with him throughout the war, from Omaha Beach to the Battle of the Bulge, and became a trusted companion…both for my father and the men he served with.”
World War II sits in our collective memory as the “Good War”: the one where the sides were clear and the sacrifices great. Literature and film have produced very few images of a certain group of heroic soldiers who died on foreign beaches, fields and jungles. The African American soldier, in segregated units, fought and died on those battlefields, and for the most part, their contribution has been largely overlooked.
The story of William A. Morris Jr.’s service in the all black 369th Coast Artillery Regiment and the 4251st Trucking Company during World War II is a story of a black soldier from Staten Island fighting for a country that is still wrestling with the ugliness of racism. Mr. Morris departed from Pouch Terminal, Stapleton and also returned there at the end of his tour of duty.
At the core of this soldier’s story, there is a miracle. Morris’ unique story has a real heroine, a dog named Trixie. This little terrier mutt found him in England just before D-Day and stayed with him throughout the war, from Omaha Beach to the Battle of the Bulge. He saved her life and she saved his.
This book follows William and Trixie’s journey from the horrors of war in Europe to the arms of Morris’ family back home. It is a story of hope, courage, faith and love. More than just a story of a black soldier and his dog, The Soldier That Wagged Her Tail holds a universal message that inspires all of us.
Dolores N. Morris is a sixth generation Staten Island native. She is widely recognized for her work in television at such prestigious companies as Children’s Television Workshop, ABC Television, Walt Disney Television and HBO. Her career has spanned 30 years of producing award winning family and children’s programming, resulting in 3 Peabody Awards, an Oscar mention and 5 Emmy awards.
Dolores serves on several community boards and is also a motivational speaker, targeting the empowerment of women and underserved youth. She is a certified Lay Speaker of the United Methodist church and recipient of awards such as the National Council of Negro Women, The College of Staten Island Presidents Medal, Lambda Kappa Mu, The Staten Island branch of the NAACP Humanitarian Award and was installed in the first class of Port Richmond High School,
her alma mater’s, Hall of Fame. She lives her life believing in the adage she once heard her grandfather, William A Morris Sr., say. “If you want something done and done well, ask a busy person.”
We invite you to join us on January 27, 2019. Admission is $10 for guests and $5 for Museum members.
Click here to register for this event – The Soldier That Wagged Her Tail – A Black Veteran’s Story of World War II