Published July 05. 2021 12:01AM
I was sad to learn of the recent passing of Merle Smith Jr. of New London, the first Black cadet to enroll and graduate from the Coast Guard Academy. The Vietnam veteran served as a role model for many in the military and the public throughout his life.
Last year, right before COVID-19 closed everything down, the Lyman Allyn Art Museum and the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut featured Smith and several other area residents in a program titled, Stories of Resilience: Encountering Racism. The program, which drew a large crowd, showcased their stories of determination, bravery, and strength in the face of personal and systemic racism.