WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — A Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony honoring a group of Black women who served overseas during World War II, brought hundreds of people to the nation’s capital Tuesday.

More than 300 descendants of The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, commonly known as “The “Six Triple Eight” witnessed the long overdue honor. They poured into Emancipation Hall at The Capitol, as members of congress on both sides of the isle recognized the heroism of their loved ones.

The Six Triple Eight’s pioneering military service and contributions helped increase the morale of personnel stationed in the European Theater of Operations during WWII.

The emotional ceremony Tuesday was led by Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson. He handed Stanley Earley III, son of Lieutenant Colonel Charity Adams Earley, the highest civilian honor awarded by the U.S. Congress, The Congressional Gold Medal.

Earley led the group of 855 women during WWII, as they faced dual discrimination being women and Black. They persevered, clearing a six-month backlog of soldiers’ mail in half that time. Their efforts were recently highlighted in a Tyler Perry film named after The Six Triple Eight.

Jacksonville native Cynthia Smith traveled to D.C. to experience the ceremony honoring her mother, Florita Smith.

“When I look at all of this today, this is a wonderful thing for the nation to be grateful [for], for it to express that gratitude, and let her know,” Smith told First Coast News. “She’s not here to know about it, but I am here to know about it. I accept the honor that they have given to her. I know that she would be proud and happy about it.”

Florita Smith died in 1992. She was also recognized in Tallahassee in March during the Florida legislative session.

In 2022, a bipartisan bill was introduced and passed into law to award the battalion the Congressional Gold Medal, leading to Tuesday’s ceremony that brought descendants of The 6888 to D.C. from across the nation. Smith said the ceremony helps to ensure that the story of The Six Triple Eight will continue to be shared for generations to come.

You can learn more about Florita Smith’s heroism and that of The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion on First Coast News+. And streaming on demand, you can watch Vivid Hues: Stories of Black History.