Neighborhood Square to be named for local WWII Veteran Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey
June 18, 2019
The Howard County Veterans Foundation, Inc. cordially invites you to ….
A groundbreaking ceremony for a long-awaited monument and 26,000-square-foot park in tribute to Howard County’s veterans and military families.
Time and Date
Saturday, June 29, 2019, at 9 a.m. at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront.
The Neighborhood Square will be named for longtime Howard County resident and community leader Vivian C. Bailey, better known as “Ms. Millie,” in recognition of her military service during World War II and her lifelong commitment to public service.
The new park, to be known as the “Vivian C. ‘Millie’ Bailey Neighborhood Square,” is being developed by Howard Hughes Corporation as part of the Downtown Columbia redevelopment effort. The multi-use park will also serve as home for the Howard County Veterans Monument, which is being developed by the Howard County Veterans Foundation, Inc.
About Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey
1LT Vivian Mildred Corbett (Bailey) graduated from Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) Training Center, Fort Des Moines, Iowa, Officer Candidate School 9 April 1943 and was commissioned as a 3d Officer WAAC. Subsequently she transferred into the Women’s Army Corps (WAC). From April 1943-May 1944 she served as second in command of the Women’s Colored Detachment, Fort McClellan, Alabama. Upon her transfer from there, Lieutenant Corbett received a Letter of Commendation recognizing her stellar professional performance and her “excellent character, spirit, and disposition.”
From May 1944-January 1946, Lieutenant Corbett served as the Unit Commander, Women’s Colored Detachment #2 at Fort Benning, Georgia. During that time period she was selected and attended the Adjutant General School, Officers’ Administration Course, November-December 1944, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. She was one of only two African American women in that class and graduated with a superior rating (only three superior ratings were given). It was the only time she served in a non-segregated environment during her time in service. 1st Lieutenant Vivian Corbett was honorably discharged from the Women’s Army Corps, Army of the United States on the eighth day of January 1946.
Ms. Bailey and her husband, William, moved to Howard County in 1970. Since she arrived in Columbia, Ms. Bailey has been a well-respected community leader. Her passion and commitment to serving others endures to this day, and at 101 years of age, she continues to give back to her community in many ways. She is a member of American Legion Post 156, she personally prepares gift packages for our actively deployed soldiers, and she can be found at Running Brook Elementary School, volunteering her time to lend a helping hand. She has been instrumental in raising a considerable amount of money for Running Brook over the past 20+ years. She has been recognized by the Community Action Council of Howard County with the 2018 Reverend John W. Holland Humanitarian Award for her lifelong commitment to serving others and in May 2015 she had the distinct honor of being invited to the White House to meet with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
We are pleased to host this event in partnership with the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, The Howard Hughes Corporation, and Columbia Association.
Article on Howard County Veterans.org
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