He commands U.S. Salvation Army
Of the St. Louis American
Israel Gaither is a black American “commander” in the world’s largest army.
He is national commander of the Salvation Army in the U.S., the first African American to hold the position. He was in St. Louis recently to help the local chapter launch its annual Tree of Lights Campaign.
He was commissioned in May as national commander and his wife, Eva Gaither, was commissioned as national president of women’s ministries.
“I am aware of the importance of my being the first black man to hold this position,” he told the American following his remarks to more than 300 people at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clayton.
“But the works, the ministry, is the most important thing. I’m honored and humbled to hold this position and to serve all of our Salvationists in the nation.”
Gaither has been traveling extensively since May and was in St. Louis as Major Lonneal Richardson, St. Louis regional commander for the Salvation Army, announced that the 2006 regional Tree of Lights goal is $6,244,066.
Richardson said the goal is a challenge, but that he is confident it will be met.
Gaither said “the need is becoming greater, it is not lessening.”
As national commander of an international army that has 1.1 million members and 10.5 million volunteers in 111 countries, Gaither said, “We are here to serve,” adding that the commitment is “24-7.”
Gaither was appointed to serve as the Salvation Army’s chief of staff in 2002. He was the first African American to hold the position since the founding of the organization in 1865. Commissioner Eva Gaither served as the world secretary for women’s ministries.
Israel and Eva Gaither have also recorded several other “firsts” in Salvation Army history.
The commissioner is the first African American to serve as a divisional commander, having served with Commissioner Eva Gaither as divisional leaders in Southern New England and in Western Pennsylvania.
They would later serve territorial assignments for the Army’s USA Eastern Territory, including a stint for Israel in the top leadership role of territorial commander, encompassing 11 northeastern states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
In 1967, the Gaither’s marriage was the first between an integrated couple of Salvation Army officers in the U.S.
On the local level, for the first time a regional goal was announced for the Tree of Lights Campaign.
It incorporates the individual goals of St. Louis City and County and the counties of St. Charles, Jefferson, Madison and St. Clair. As in the past, all donations will remain in the community in which they originated.
The regional goal is an aggregate of local goals that include: St. Louis, $4.6 million; Alton, $201,536; Arnold, $123,000; Belleville, $380,000; East St. Louis, $92,000; Granite City, $165,000; and St. Charles County, $525,000.
Those who would like to donate may send a check to: The Salvation Army Tree of Lights, 1130 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63139
Of course, most St. Louisans support the Tree of Lights by tossing spare change into the red buckets outside many retailers during the Christmas season.