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Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Newsle er
Inside this issue:
President’s Message 2 & 12
TAI Code of Ethics 5
2014 Elections 6
2014 Convention Registration
7
Spotlight on DOTAs 10
Salute to America’s Heroes
11
Announcements 19
Winter 2013/2014
More than 100 people were on hand to witness the unveiling of sculpted busts of General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., and Brigadier-General Noel F. Parrish, both iconic Tuskegee Airmen commanders during WWII. The event, which was held at the annual meeting of the Aviation Museum of Kentucky (AMK) on December 7, 2013, was orchestrated by Ron Spriggs, Executive Director of the Ron Spriggs Exhibit of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., and member of the AMK board of directors.
The busts were designed and sculpted by Bobby Scroggins, Associate Art Professor with the University of Kentucky, who is also an AMK board member.
The project was sponsored through the generosity of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.
Black and White Tuskegee Airmen Unveiled President Brig. Gen. Leon Johnson, USAFR (Ret.) 1st Vice President CMSgt. John B. Patterson, USAF (Ret.) 2nd Vice President Brig. Gen. Stayce Harris, USAF Immediate Past President Lt. Gen. Russell Davis, USAF (Ret.) Financial Secretary Mr. Stephan Wilkinson Treasurer Ms. Rosario Biggs-Dickerson Parliamentarian SMSgt Tyrelle Felder Public Relations Officer Ms. Sandra Campbell Central Region President MSgt. Marv K. Abrams, USAF (Ret.) Eastern Region President CMSgt. Quincy Magwood, USAF (Ret.) Western Region President Mr. Larry Jackson
General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was commander of the black 99th Fighter Squadron, the 332nd Fighter Group in Italy, and later the 477th Composite Group assigned at Godman Field near Louisville, KY. Gen. Davis was born in Washington, DC in 1912, and followed in his father’s footsteps to become a second generation member of the U.S. Army. His father, Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., was a Buffalo Soldier and climbed the ranks from enlisted to America’s first black General Grade officer. In spite of the shunning he endured during four years at West Point, Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. graduated 35th in a class of 276 in 1936. As a Captain, he joined the first class of 13 cadets at Tuskegee in 1941. He qualified as a pilot and was one of five pilots who graduated in Class 42-C-SE, and the first black to become a General Grade officer in the new United States Air Force. He ended his career as a Lieutenant General. In 1995, he was called out of retirement and advanced to the rank of General by President Bill Clinton. Davis died in 2002.
Brigadier General Noel Francis Parrish was one of a handful of whites who participated in the Tuskegee Experience (1941-1949). He was born in Versailles, KY in 1909, moved to Waco, Texas, where he studied at Rice University, entered the Army Cavalry (with real horses) as a Private, and later became a pilot. He was assigned as Commander of the cadet training program at Tuskegee Institute. His name was chartered in 2007 as the Brigadier General Noel F. Parrish Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., in Lexington, KY. Due to his efforts to desegregate his troops, reduce over-crowding, and improve morale and relations between Tuskegee residents and inhabitants on the nearby military base, Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. established the prestigious “Brigadier General Noel F. Parrish Award” in his honor. Brigadier General Parrish was inducted into the Aviation Museum of Kentucky’s Hall of Fame. He died in 1987.
Ron Spriggs poses between the busts of Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and BGen. Noel F. Parrish during the unveiling and installation ceremony.
SAVE THE DATE -- TAI 2014 Convention -- July 30 - August 2, 2014 - Orlando, Florida (Page 7)
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Fellow Members of TAI,
As we finish out the end of 2013, I want to share with you my priorities for the upcoming year. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. has been challenged this year by the economic situation affecting our Nation. Our convention in St. Louis saw a 60% decrease in attendance due to the impact of sequestration on the ability of our military members and supporters to join us. A number of sponsors including the Department of Defense were not able to provide the fiscal support that had been available to us in prior years. The bottom-line is our overall cost of doing business exceeded our revenue flow. The projection for 2014 is not great but I think that there are some actions we can set in motion now, which can get us started on a road to a positive revenue flow, such as a TAI Aviation Summer Camp, community partnerships, corporate partnerships, and better engaging our membership at large.
The first area that can make a difference is increased membership designed to attract rather than detract from our organizational objectives. At our November Board of Directors meeting, I charged the Region Presidents to achieve a 15% increase in our membership which reflects an increase of 100 adult members in each of our 3 regions. The Chair of our Membership Committee feels that this goal is attainable and can easily be exceeded.
In a previous letter I mentioned that each of us knows someone who was previously a member of TAI. It is important that each of us contact them and see if we can bring them back to TAI. In our daily interactions we encounter individuals who may be good candidates for membership. Please give them information about who we are, our mission, and goals. As I travel the country, I find that many people don’t think they can be members of TAI. They think anyone interested in membership has to be a Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, in the military or African-American to join. They are often surprised to learn that TAI is an open membership organization which anyone who supports our mission and goals can join. Obviously, someone with certain criminal offenses would not be eligible for membership.
If each one of us makes it our duty to recruit just one member between now and 31 January 2014 we can double our numbers. This can accomplish a number of things. It will bring individuals with new ideas to TAI, it can give us additional resources for our programs, and it will give us new members to hold positions within our organization.
The second area that can make a difference is the TAI-USAA credit card. Currently there are approximately 700 cards in circulation which have generated $5,860 in revenue to TAI in 2013. A total of 123 new cards were approved and issued this year. USAA has creatively worked to get more applications for the TAI-USAA credit card. Increasing our organization’s membership has the potential to increase more membership applications for the USAA credit card.
One of the things USAA has done and continues to do is provide brochures to TAI that advertise the credit card. Copies of these brochures have been sent to each Chapter for distribution at events. More can be obtained upon request from the National Office. Revenue to TAI is generated by the number of cards in circulation and the purchases made using the card. If we double the number of cards in circulation in 2014 it will result in a significant increase in revenue to TAI. Questions about eligibility come up frequently about the TAI-USAA credit card. While you have to be a member of USAA to qualify for their insurance programs, that does not apply to its credit card and other financial services. During the convention, USAA announced the release of an American Express version of the credit card.
The third area is TAI merchandise on the Amazon.com website, which will enable us to reach the largest possible audience with our “branded” Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. product offerings and process of putting our TAI merchandise on the Amazon.com website. As announced at the convention, the goal is to increase the variety of items we have for sale, using Amazon as our warehouse and fulfillment center. The team working the project plans to continue to have
From the Desk of the National President
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‘members’ merchandise items as well as bulk pricing options for Chapters. They will be contacting Chapters soon about a special offer on 2014 TAI calendars. Growth of the merchandise project has the potential to become the major revenue stream for TAI.
The fourth area that can make a difference is donations. The Board of Directors voted to each make a $1,000 cash or in-kind donation to TAI annually. The cash donations are targeted to and will be held in a special account for our Youth Program. Each of us has a number of 501 (c) 3 organizations that we support during the course of the year. Some TAI members work for companies that, within program limits, match monies donated by employees to a 501(c)3. As we approach the end of 2013, I ask each TAI member to join the members of the Board of Directors by making a small donation in supporting our Regional and National Youth Programs. On the TAI National website (www.TuskegeeAirmen.org), there is a link in the top right-hand corner for downloading a pledge form that can be mailed to the National Office with your donation.
2014 is an election year for National Officers, Region Presidents and Board Representatives for TAI. We need to have competitive elections which can only happen if we have members willing to participate in the process as candidates. Please review the National Bylaws to see the duties of the various positions and the requirements to file for the positions. To vote in the election via absentee ballot or at the convention you must be dues current. Our National Bylaws state that membership renewals must be submitted to National no later than the 31st of January of each year. In the past we have had problems with the flow of the Form 2 and payments from the individual member through the Chapter to National.
To help address some of the issues associated with this, our Board of Directors has moved the responsibilities associated with membership from the Financial Secretary to the National Office. All checks and Form 2’s should be sent to the National Office at PO Box 830060, Tuskegee AL 36083. Our goal is to shift the entire membership process to a web- based platform in the future.
In my visits to various Chapters I’m often asked about my vision and goals for TAI. These were expressed in a letter to you that went out 16 May of 2011. What I said then is still applicable, so I’m repeating it here.
Here are my short and long term goals for TAI:
Transition TAI from spending in arrears to a funded budget based organization
Create a line of TAI branded merchandise (TAI Logo and Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.) that we, TAI, market to the public.
Allow Chapters to participate in this branding by mirroring the National merchandise plan using their chapter logos
Expand the National sales of the TAI Logo merchandise to new partners like Tuskegee University, Army Air Force Exchange Service, National Park Service, the original Tuskegee Airmen units in the Air Force today (332nd Wing, 477th Group, 99th, 100th, 301st, and 302nd Squadrons) etc.
Establish economic relationships with companies like USAA that will provide revenues to TAI
Transition TAI National Office to a permanent location
Expand the Youth Programs at both the National and Chapter levels within the funding available
Establish a repeatable National Convention footprint
Revitalize the role of Heritage Members within TAI
Make the necessary changes to the TAI Bylaws to add corporate members to the Board of Directors
Revitalize the 3 way partnership with the National Park Service and Tuskegee University to assure timely completion of the Tuskegee Airmen National Park
Simplify the TAI membership processes
Establishment of an “At-Large” Chapter
SHORT TERM GOALS (0 to 3 years)
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This is the big picture as I see it for the short and long term. The long term is hard to gauge since so much is dependent upon us getting our financial house in order in the short term to have the necessary base to support the long term.
Since I wrote the above in 2011, we have finalized a new Strategic Plan. Here is what the executive summary says about our focus areas:
TAI’s 2012 – 2015 Strategic Focus Areas
Based on our findings, the TAI 2012 – 2015 strategic plan identifies four strategic focus areas to serve as our core goals for the next three years: (1) engaging members; (2) fund/friend raising; (3) branding & marketing TAI; and (4) development of a strong National, Regional and Chapter infrastructure.
If you have not reviewed the new TAI Strategic Plan, I encourage each of you to do so. It should help to answer questions about what direction our organization has selected. An electronic version was recently sent to each chapter via the Region Presidents.
The role of our Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen (DOTA) is vital to our organization and they are why we exist. We must do everything we can to honor and preserve their ‘Heritage and Legacy’. One of the prime ways we can do this is to use correct terminology. The only members of TAI who are Tuskegee Airmen are the DOTA’s. The rest of us are simply members of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
The official opening of Hangar 2 at the National Park in Tuskegee, AL was impacted by the shutdown of the government. The National Park Service is looking for a new date in the first quarter of 2014. We are in negotiations with the Park Service about moving our National Office into one of the buildings in the park and will update you on the outcome of our discussions.
Ms. Rita and I want to send our best to you and your families as we embark on 2014. Thank you for all you do for our Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen and TAI.
Sincerely,
Leon A. Johnson
Leon A. Johnson, National President Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Grow TAI membership to over 4000 in 5 years
Establish a $10,000,000 endowment
Establishment of TAI Youth Aviation, Aerospace, Transportation and STEM Academy
Staff the National office to properly support TAI activities
Change the TAI Bylaws to allow the “Body” to vote on Resolutions outside of the convention
Change the TAI Bylaws to allow for vote on Resolutions that are presented at convention by the “Body” who are not in attendance at the annual convention
LONG TERM GOALS (3 to 5 years)
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TAI CODE OF ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated (a/k/a TAI) and its affiliate Chapters (hereinafter collectively referred to as “TAI”) are committed to complying with all governmental laws, rules, and regulations. Even where the law is permissive, TAI is committed to conducting its affairs to the highest standards of ethics, integrity, honesty, fairness, and professionalism, without exception and at all times. TAI’s Mission, Vision, and Values serve as the foundation for this policy. The behavior of each member, director, officer and employee will be guided by this policy.
This policy is intended to be a guide for TAI members, directors, officers, and employees on how to deal with each other, youth, media, vendors, and local, national, and international communities. This policy applies to all associates and individuals who enter into relationships with TAI for any specified period of time, such as members of an organization, contractors, volunteers, visiting fellows, and interns (collectively referred to as “status associates” for reference purposes only). It does not address all possible situations that may arise, but it is a set of principles designed to guide members on acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
Personal and Professional Behavior
TAI members, directors, officers, and employees are placed in a position of trust and are expected to be honest, ethical, and fair, and act professionally when carrying out their duties. This trust is placed at risk when employees fail to recognize and avoid conflicts involving their private interests and their employment responsibilities, including situations where there is a reasonable basis for the perception of such a conflict. Employees should always look to TAI’s Mission, Vision, and Values to guide their conduct, provide guidance, or address questions regarding actual or potential conflicts of interest.
Members, directors, officers, and employees are expected to safeguard the image of TAI in their personal and professional endeavors.
Members, directors, officers, and employees are expected to protect the best interests of TAI at all times by reporting any situations that conflict with this policy to their Chapter President, Region Representative, President or 1st Vice President.
Process for Determining Whether a Breach of the Code Has Occurred An essential part of developing and maintaining a safe and fair business environment is ensuring that individuals with concerns are encouraged to come forward in the knowledge that TAI will: Consider and investigate, if appropriate, allegations of behavior that may breach the Code or other TAI
policies. Take all reasonable steps to protect a member, director, officer, and employee who makes a disclosure in
good faith about conduct that is inconsistent with this policy. There will be no unlawful retaliation against any employee for making a good-faith report about alleged violations of TAI’s policies.
Resolving Issues Under the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Policy As a general principle, and wherever it is possible to do so, members, directors, officers, and employees should attempt to resolve an issue at the lowest level. This may involve a member, director, officer, and employee discussing the matter directly with his or her Chapter President, Region President, President, or 1st Vice President. Board of Directors, Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
National President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President Immediate Past President Executive Recording Secretary Treasurer Parliamentarian Financial Secretary
Historian (nonvoting) Public Relations (nonvoting) Western Region President Central Region President
Eastern Region President WR Board Representative WR Board Representative WR Board Representative
WR Board Representative CR Board Representative CR Board Representative CR Board Representative
CR Board Representative ER Board Representative ER Board Representative ER Board Representative ER Board Representative
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TAI NATIONAL POSITIONS OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS: -President -Financial Secretary -First Vice President -Treasurer -Second Vice President (appointed position only) -Parliamentarian -Executive Recording Secretary SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: Nominees must submit the following Nomination Packet items for the 2014 TAI National Convention Election to include: A written Letter of Intent (LOI) to include a statement that the candidate will serve in the office sought, if elected A biography not more than 200 words indicating qualifications and experience. Biographies should also describe
individual experience in Finance, Previous Leadership Positions, and Accomplishments especially in TAI if available. A current passport size photo. Candidates not submitting a photo in their Nomination Packet will not be disqualified.
If a candidate does not submit a photo, it will be listed in the National Newsletter as “photo unavailable.” ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS: Candidates must be a TAI member for at least two (2) years. (Confirmation by Financial Secretary) Candidates are required to have held an elected Chapter or Regional position prior to running for a TAI National
position. (Confirmation by TAI Form 5, or Chapter/Region Minutes) NOMINATION PROCEDURES: The Regional Presidents and Regional Board Representatives are self-nominated or nominated in their respective Regional Caucuses at the TAI National Convention. All Regional President and Representative candidates are also required to include a written Letter of Intent (LOI), biography to include their experience in the areas of Finance, Leadership, Previous Leadership Positions, Accomplishments in TAI, and a current passport size photo. Members interested in holding an elected position at the TAI National or Regional level must submit their Nomination Packet (electronic preferred) to be received no later than April 2, 2014. If possible, please send the Nomination Packet by email to [email protected] or by United States Postal Service to: Marvin L. Williams, TAI Nominations Chair (Acting) TAI National Committee on Nominations P.O. Box 9573 Columbia, SC 29290-0573 Submit Nomination Packets as early as possible to allow candidates to be submitted to all of TAI National membership. Although a candidate may be nominated from the floor (or caucus for Regional positions) at the TAI National Convention, Nomination Packets must contain all submission items listed above. Packets must be submitted to the Nomination Committee the same day the candidate is nominated from the floor (or caucus) before their name can be added to the Election Sheet. VOTING: Any member in good standing is entitled to vote and may request in writing to receive an Absentee Ballot for any elections held at the 2014 TAI National Convention. Members requesting an Absentee Ballot must ensure that their annual dues are paid and processed by National no later than April 15, 2014. Absentee Ballot procedures/instructions will be posted later on the TAI National Website and Newsletter. 2014 NOMINATION TIMELINE: January 31, 2014 Distribution of information to TAI National membership VIA Email and/or US Postal Services April 2, 2014 Nomination packages must be returned to Nomination Committee April 3 -13, 2014 Nomination Committee meets to review Nomination Packets April 15, 2014 Final Nominations slate will be listed in the TAI National Newsletter All Board members, if elected, are requested to donate $1,000.00 or provide an in-kind donation of the same amount (pending Board procedural approval). If you have any questions, please call Marvin L. Williams at (803) 783-0388.
2014 NATIONAL & REGIONAL NOMINATIONS
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2014 CONVENTION REGISTRATION
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2014 CONVENTION
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2014 CONVENTION
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Spotlight on DOTAs DOTA Walter Crenshaw celebrated his 104th birthday on October 27, 2013 at the Veterans Homes of Greater Los Angeles Main Dining Hall (Jeanne Bonfilio - Public Information Officer, LA Chapter)
DOTA Clarence Huntly celebrated his 90th birthday on October 20th 2013. He is the uncle of Craig Huntly, historian, Tuskegee Airmen researcher, past historian for the LA Chapter, and former member of Harry Sheppard Research Committee. (Source: Sunnye Simpson, !TFAM)
Claude Robert Platte, Jr., 92, passed away September 27, 2013 in Fort Worth, TX. He was born March 16, 1921 in Denison, Texas and earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering/minor in aeronautics from Tuskegee Institute. While at Tuskegee, he earned a private pilot's license and later a Certified Flight Instructor rating. He trained pilot cadets at Moton Field and earned the rank of Captain with the U.S. Air Force. He was honorably discharged in 1965 after 18 years of service and founded the Claude R. Platte Chapter TAI.
Charles A. Lane, Jr., a Redtail pilot and member of the Alfonza W. Davis Chapter passed away November 9, 2013. In remembering DOTA Lane, the president of the Alfonza W. Davis Chapter remarked that “Charles Lane was one of the people I always looked for when I arrived at convention. Mr. Lane and his wife would throw open their arms and I would walk into a welcoming embrace. He was so cute with his mischievous smile. Seeing them made me happy.” (Source: Robert D. Rose, Alfonza W. Davis Chapter Pres.)
Ann S. Roberts, 91, widow of the late DOTA Lt. Col. Leroy Roberts, Jr. and mother of Sam Bruce Chapter vice president, Karen Robinson, passed away in early November 2013. A Funeral Mass was held November 11, 2013, at St. Charles Borromeo Church, Tacoma, Washington. See the obituary at the following link: http://pipermorleymellingerfh.com/book-of-memories/1711020/Roberts-Ann/obituary.php
William L. Booker, 90, former president of the Sam Bruce Chapter, passed away November 30, 2013. Services were held December 14, 2013, at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Seattle, Washington. DOTA Booker was one of the last original Tuskegee Airmen in the Puget Sound area, serving as a flight engineer and navigator with the 477th Bombardment Group based at Godman Field, KY. He graduated from the University of Denver, was an electrical engineer, worked for Boeing Aircraft Company for 34 years, and invented an electrical aircraft component that was patented in 1987.
Lonely Eagles
DOTA Lt Col (ret) Eldridge Williams celebrat-ed his 96th Birthday. (Source: Richard Hall, Miami Chapter TAI president)
Save the Date…
July 30—August 2, 2014 Rosen Centre, Orlando Florida
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Salute to America’s Heroes
I was in Orlando for the Dedication of the Red Tail Pilots Monument at the Orlando Science Center on 11 November. It is a bronze 14 foot statue of four P-51s in a missing man formation. It was a fabulous event. On Saturday, we rode in Model A Ford convertibles in the Orlando Veterans Day Parade, and later attended a luscious banquet at the Rosen Center Hotel. It is the same hotel that will host the TAI convention next July. Six Red Tail Pilots were in attendance, namely: Col Charles McGee, Lt Col Leo R. Gray, Lt Col Hiram H. Mann, Major Ralph Turner, Lt Calvin Spann, and Lt Raymon Casagnol (Haitian Air Force). The events for the weekend were coordinated and managed by Mr. Mike McKenzie, and his Vision of Flight Youth Program. This youth program and weekend experience grew and was the culmination of the Red Tail Pilots Reunion that I sponsored in March 2011. This is the first and only monument that focuses on the Red Tail Pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen. As you may recall, TAI has never recognized the 332FG, let alone the Red Tail Pilots. TAI only recognized DOTAS. There are over 16,000 DOTAS, of whom 931 were pilots who completed the Advanced Pilot Training Program at TAAFFS. The Red Tail Pilots were the 355 who were sent overseas during WWII. To my knowledge, there are now 32 Red Tail Pilots still alive in various stages of physical fitness.
....from DOTA Leo Gray, Red Tail Pilot
Lonely Eagles Chapter (cont’d)
DOTA Graham (L) with his wife, Evelyn, holding a bronze replica of the Congressional Gold Medal presented to the Tuskegee Airmen and proclamation from the Clayton County (GA) Board of Commissioners and the City of Riverdale. (Photo by Zellie Orr, former Atlanta Chapter President.)
...this Veterans Day we come together to celebrate the strength of our nation as embodied in our American Veteran. Throughout history, our Veterans have put themselves in “HARM’S WAY”, risking their lives … so that our nation will live. We come to celebrate those who have gone before, those who are now serving on our battlefields far from home, and those who are assembled here today. We celebrate those of whom President Abraham Lincoln referenced in his Gettysburg Address, November 1863, “who gave the last full measure of devotion.” Three things define our Soldiers and our Sailors and our Marines and our Airmen: CHARACTER, STRENGTH and COURAGE. They have CHARACTER – that thing that propels them to take the OATH OF ENLISTMENT and swear “to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” They have STRENGTH – to carry one hundred pounds of body armor and bullets and hand grenades into the desert where the temperature is over one hundred and twenty degrees…, and in the armored vehicles, over one hundred and thirty degrees. They have the COURAGE – to fight an enemy that lived and hid in caves in Okinawa and the Philippines, that came in waves of ten thousand in Korea, that lived in subterranean tunnels in Viet Nam, and that now masquerade as thirteen year-old suicide bombers in Iraq and Afghanistan. OUR VETERANS HAVE THREE THINGS THAT BIND THEM TOGETHER: CHARACTER, STRENGTH AND COURAGE. That is what we are here today to celebrate. This is what we are here today to honor and to give thanks. WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE AND THE SACRIFICES YOU HAVE MADE TO DEFEND OUR WAY OF LIFE. WE CELEBRATE EACH AND EVERY AMERICAN VETERAN.
...Remarks by Colonel Conway Jones, USAF (Ret), November 11, 2013
On Monday, January 13, 2014 DOTA Lafayette Brown Jr. (center) joined the Lonely Eagle Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen. He was 91 years old and lived near Suitland, Maryland. One of DOTA Brown's many distinguished military positions included official driver for Lt. Col. B. O. Davis Jr while serving in the 99th FS/332FG.
Brew Graham, 98, passed away September 26, 2013, in Riverdale, GA. During the Tuskegee Experience of WWII, he served as a mechanic with the 332nd Fighter Group and 99th Fighter Squadron. In 1945, he won a track-and-field championship medal in Rome, Italy. “You did not want to go overseas,” said Evelyn to her husband Brew Graham during a March 2012 interview with Zellie Orr, then president of Atlanta Chapter TAI. “I told B. O. Davis that I’m a conscientious objector; I didn’t feel I ought to be fighting for the United States,” said DOTA Graham. “B. O. Davis said, ‘Yeah, yeah I know, just get your a_ _ right up on that boat.”
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From the Desk of the National President
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Armistice ending World War I was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The federal holiday we recently celebrated was approved by Congress in 1938, but it wasn’t until 1954 that Congress replaced “Armistice” with “Veterans,” amending the original Act to commemorate the day as a day in America when all veterans are honored. Across our nation we honor our veterans for the contributions they have made to ensure the freedoms that too many in this nation take for granted.
Freedom is not free! Ladies and gentlemen when you meet a veteran please tell them thank you. When you meet the family members of a veteran say thank you to them; they also make and made sacrifices that are often taken for granted.
By definition, every time a member of the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard puts on a uniform they are placing themselves in harm’s way in defense of a dream. Every year Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and, DoD Civil Service Employees from the Active Duty, Reserve and the National Guard die in defense of that dream. We call that dream freedom.
Within the Federal government there is an agency known as the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) which oversees very special cemeteries. It was first established back in 1923 and has overseen the remains of American Armed Forces since World War I. This commission has the records and maintains the 24 permanent overseas military cemeteries with some 125,000 American military personnel buried in them.
I want to send my personal thanks to all the veterans in Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and the family members who supported and continue to support them.
Sincerely,
Leon A. Johnson
Leon A. Johnson, National President
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Western Region News
The Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones Chapter (Denver, CO) recently bestowed Honorary Membership on Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. (Lowell Bell HLHJ Chapter President )
In October 2013, the General Benjamin O. Davis Chapter TAI dedicated a plaque honoring all Tuskegee Airmen at the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial overlooking San Diego. The memorial commemorates Gen. Davis, one of the Chapter's original members, who was known for his outstanding leadership. Gen. Davis once remarked that rather than take credit for what he did he preferred to give the credit to his men. More than 3,000 granite plaques along the memorial walls tell the stories of scores of men and women, living and deceased, some known and some unknown. All of them--Presidents, Medal of Honor recipients, Admirals, Generals, Hollywood celebrities and lesser known veterans--have one thing in common; they helped protect the freedoms we enjoy as Americans through their service from the Revolutionary War to current conflicts in the Middle East.
The plaque honoring B. O. Davis was designed, arranged, and coordinated by the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Chapter TAI (San Diego) with the approval of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. The mission of the Mt Soledad Memorial Association is to create a monument honoring veterans who have served our country, as both a unique registry of our military heritage and to educate the public on the contributions of military personnel throughout our nation's history. (Source: Arlys Erickson, B. O. Davis Chapter)
Denver Mayor Receives Honorary Membership
B. O. Davis Chapter Installs TAI Plaque at California Memorial Site
“Spanky” Roberts Chapter: First Youth to Solo
On November 26, 2013, James Gardner, Jr. became the first member of the George S. "Spanky" Roberts Chapter's Youth Aviation Programs to solo an airplane. He had previously completed 20 hours of flight instruction and passed the written exam. Taking off from the Sacramento Executive Airport in a Cessna 152 on his 16th birthday, James successfully finished four trips around the traffic pattern that included three taxi-backs. Friends and family witnessed this historical event and celebrated afterwards with a birthday lunch in his honor at the airport restaurant.
James' next milestone is to complete the requirements for the Student Pilot Certificate. James is a junior in high school and a 2nd Lieutenant in Squadron 14 of the Civil Air Patrol. He was the Spanky Roberts Chapter's 2011 Youth Aviation Programs "Shining Star." After graduating high school, he plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University or Georgetown University.
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Nelson Mandela Memorialized
DOTA Granville Coggs of the San Antonio Chapter TAI, was among many around the world who celebrated the life of former South African President Nelson Mandela. At a December 15, 2013 memorial celebration honoring the late African leader, Coggs recited "Invictus," by William Ernest Henley, which Mandela had memorized and recited during his nearly three decades in prison. Coggs told the audience at Mount Zion First Baptist Church: "I am the captain of my fate. I am the master of my soul." Mandela passed away on December 5, at the age of 95. He was laid to rest in his ancestral village in South Africa. Coggs' presentation may be seen on YouTube. Stories on Mandela's life and legacy were covered by several local media, including the San Antonio Express-News (http://bit.ly/1kOpxUh; and http://www.mysanantonio.com).
Central Region News
4th Annual Alex Puente Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament
The Claude R. Platte Chapter held a Memorial Golf Tournament in November which featured DOTAs Spann and Hogues as "Educational Honorees" on Hole #9. After players finished the hole, they greeted and thanked the two Tuskegee Airmen for their service to our country. Two ROTC cadets from a local high school attended the flag for the honorees at the hole. Proceeds from the tournament benefit the Alex Puente Memorial Scholarship.
Western Region Winter Conference February 28 - March 2, 2014
"Reaching for the Stars...Continuing the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen," is the theme of the 2014 Western Region's upcoming Winter Conference, February 28 through March 2, 2014, at the Nugget Hotel Resort in Reno, NV. Registration is $95 until February 1, 2014, or $125 from February 2-20, 2014. Attendees should arrive before 5:00pm on Friday, February 28 for the 6:00pm Welcome. The conference will provide opportunities for fellowship among TAI members and guests, and to help the Reno Chapter TAI get off to a good start. The Western Region Conference Planning Committee, in cooperation with the Nugget Hotel staff, is working to make this conference a success. Special accommodations have been arranged for those with special needs by placing them on the second floor near the Event Center so they will not need an elevator and can avoid going through the casino area. Proper signage and personnel stationed throughout the facility will also be available to provide directions and answer questions. For more information, contact Clyde Jones, Sr., president, Lee A. Archer, Jr. Chapter, Travis AFB, CA: [email protected] or 707-386-9592.
OMC Launches Education Center Program
Jim Wood’s story in Sunday Morning’s Columbus Dispatch helps keep public attention on the ongoing tragedy of daily life in Driving Park, one of Columbus’ oldest neighborhoods. What Jim didn’t have time or space to write about is the thousands of Driving Park children who know no other way of life. Enter the Ohio Memorial Chapter (OMC) TAI, which will launch a Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Education Center pilot program in the Driving Park neighborhood next summer. OMC will lead a coalition of educators, including Ohio State University, funding organizations like the United Way, and community leaders such as the Driving Park Civic Association, MLK Branch of Columbus Public Library System, United Columbus, and many others. Both Dan Good, interim Superintendent of Columbus City Schools, and Todd Hadley, Superintendent of Dublin City Schools, have taken an interest in the program and plan to follow its progress, as well as the Dean of OSU’s College of Engineering, David Willliams.
The pilot program will target children up to 6th or 7th grade who need to be informed about alternative lifestyles available for them. Like their historic namesakes, members of OMC-TAI will use “education” to lead the way to greater possibilities for this generation of Driving Park students.
While much has been accomplished, there is still a lot of work to be done. The good news is that OMC and the coalition of organizations mentioned above are excited and highly motivated. They strongly believe that the path they are embarking on will lead to success, first for Driving Park and then for other parts of the state and the nation.
Western Region News (cont’d)
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Central Region News (cont’d)
General Edward A. Rice Returns to Civilian Life
The Alamo City Chamber of Commerce sponsored a reception to welcome General Edward A. Rice, retiring Commander of the Air Education and Training Command to civilian life December 17, 2013 at Saint Philips College in San Antonio, TX. On hand were local politicians, Chamber members, community activists, and former colleagues. In recognition of his service and his TAI membership, the San Antonio Chapter presented him with a Thomas Blackshear statue of a Tuskegee Airman. During the Program DOTA Dr. Granville Coggs recited the poem Invictus as a tribute to the General. DOTA Coggs, Gen. Rice, and Rick Sinkfield [SACTAI President] are shown here. (Roddray Walker, Public Relations, San Antonio Chapter)
Like many of his fellow Tuskegee Airmen, Homer Hogues fought dual battles during World War II – against Nazi oppression and racism. They were victorious against the Nazis, but racism proved harder. When the native Texan returned home, he applied for a job at Braniff Airlines as a mechanic, but the only offer they gave him was janitorial work. “No Tuskegee Airmen flew as commercial pilots after the war,” said Barbara Hogues of Dallas, speaking with her father to dozens of students as part of “Celebrating the Legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen” at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
About 900 students toured the museum, listened to presentations by Hogues, DOTA Calvin Spann, and retired U.S. Air Force Major Yolandea Wood, and checked out the Commemorative Air Force Red Tail Squadron P-51C “Mustang.” This authentic North American P-51C “Mustang” fighter aircraft bore the distinctive “Red Tail” paint scheme similar to the aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during WWII.
The educational experience was offered free to area students in grades 5 through 12 by a grant from United Parcel Service (UPS).
Five North Texans were among the original Tuskegee Airmen; Homer Hogues, Robert T. McDaniel, Loyd B. “Mac” McKeethen, Joseph B. Montgomery, and Calvin J. Spann.
One of the major highlights was the “Rise Above” display, a travelling movie theater with a 160-degree curved panoramic screen housed in a semi-trailer. It presents a professionally-produced 30-minute film about the Tuskegee Airmen while pictorial information on the outside of the rig outlines the exploits of these famed American warriors.
The permanent Tuskegee Airmen exhibit in the Frontiers of Flight Museum’s World War II Gallery features original artifacts, photographs, art, and other memorabilia, much of it donated by surviving members of this historic group from the Dallas area.
Homer Hogues, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, told students at the Frontiers of Flight Museum that battling racism was more difficult than fighting in the war. (Kye R. Lee/Staff Photographer) Below: The travelling museum in the semi-truck trailer sits along-side the authentic P-51C Mustang.
DOTAs Explain Tuskegee Experience to Youth
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Eastern Region News
November 14, 2013. The City of New York has officially renamed one of its streets in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen. The official wording states that “This bill permanently changes the name of South Road between Merrick Boulevard and Remington Street to “Tuskegee Airmen Way” in the Borough of Queens, and amends the New York map accordingly.” “It is in this spirit of triumph we vote to rename South Road to Tuskegee Airmen Way…inspiring us to achieve. Let these nineteen blocks serve as a long-lasting reminder of the greatness for our young people,” said Ruben Wills, Council Member.
New York City Street Renamed “Tuskegee Airmen Way”
At the October 2013 ECCTAI General Membership Meeting, Jerry L. ‘Hawk’ Burton was formerly presented the General Noel F. Parrish Award by Trent Dudley, ECCTAI President, and William Campbell, ECCTAI Vice President, as eight DOTAs from the Chapter looked on. The original presentation was made during the 42nd national TAI convention in August, but Jerry was unable to attend. In accepting the award, Jerry thanked the chapter for the confidence, responsibility, and support given to him in his role as ECCTAI Speakers Bureau Chairman and Communications Officer over the years.
Burton Receives BGen Noel F. Parrish Award
l-r ECCTAI VP William Campbell, DOTA William Wilson, DOTA Jim Pryde, Jerry Burton, DOTA Major L. Anderson II, DOTA Dr. Cyril O. Byron, DOTA Lemuel Lewis, DOTA Dr. Ivan Ware, sitting DOTA Bill Fauntroy DOTA Edward Talbert in audience – photos by Christopher Smith posted http://ecctai.smugmug.com/
The Wells Fargo local Black African American Team Member Network invited Tuskegee Airmen to a Veterans Day event on November 6, 2013. The program included a showing of the documentary, “Double Victory”, followed by a panel discussion headlined by DOTAs Jim Pryde, Dr. Ivan Ware, Bill Fauntroy, and participation by other members of ECCTAI. Members Jerry Burton and Steve McCoy added information about TA I membership and Youth Programs, and Joy Branham-Pryde, Walter Brown, and Arit Essien were also on hand. On November 8 -9 , t he American Veterans Center held their 16th Annual Conference and Honors. As part of that event, on November 9, DOTA Calvin Spann (San Antonio Chapter), a member of the Red Tail Pilots from the 100th Fighter Squadron, joined fellow DOTAs James Pryde, a B-25
ECCTAI Veterans Day Activities Radioman and Gunner with the 477th Bombardment Group, Dr. Ivan Ware of the 332nd Fighter Group Logistics, and Bill Fauntroy, a Pre-Aviation Cadet TAAF, on the Red Tails Panel Discussion. It had been a few years since AVS was able to get any of the original Tuskegee Airmen on this program. DOTAs who participated on the panel and their guests also attended the awards dinner that evening which was broadcast on the Pentagon Channel worldwide (http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/Video.aspx) Videooid+308439. (Source: Jerry Burton, ECCTAI)
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Eastern Region News (cont’d)
Orlando, FL Mayor Buddy Dyer invited Central Florida residents and visitors to join him and his Veterans Advisory Council to honor the courageous men and women of our armed forces at the 14th annual Orlando Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 9, 2013, in Downtown Orlando. The parade, led by Mayor Dyer and local veterans, paid tribute to the Red Tail Pilots of the Tuskegee Airmen and other veterans who fought for our country and defended our freedom.
Four surviving Red Tail pilots were this year’s grand marshals for the parade: Major Ralph Turner, Colonel Charles McGee, Lieutenant Colonel Leo Gray and Lieutenant Colonel Hiram Mann. The parade provided a unique way to honor and recognize the accomplishments of these airmen, and the outstanding military service they provided to our country. Sponsored by Sprint, the parade consisted of a variety of participants, including men and women from more than 100 Central Florida veteran organizations, active duty military, high school JROTCs and the UCF AFROTC. Bands included the White Plains School Blue Brigade, Florida Brass Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, First Academy Royal Marching Band, Bishop Moore Catholic High School Band and Jones High School Marching Tigers. Additionally, a Red Tail Monument Unveiling took place Monday, November 11, 2013 at the Orlando Science Center. Mayor Dyer joined District 3 City Commissioner Robert Stuart, hosting a dedication ceremony of the Red Tail Pilot monument. This monument is the first in the nation to honor the Red Tail Pilots’ legacy and their brave actions during combat. Also, the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Dedication Ceremony was held Monday, November 11, 2013. Mayor Dyer joined the Central Florida Veterans Memorial Park Foundation to officially dedicate the Memorial to the Fallen. The Memorial is located adjacent to the new VA Medical Center and will honor approximately 1,100 veterans from Orange, Lake, Brevard, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties who made the ultimate sacrifice and never returned.
14th Annual Veterans Day Parade
Veterans Day in Washington, DC Veterans Day--Monday, November 11, 2013--was a beautiful, cool, and sunny autumn day. Following a moving song and a prayer led by Civil War re-enactors, and the placement of a wreath at the African American Civil War Memorial in downtown Washington DC, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and Mayor Vincent Gray presided over a program across the street at the African American Civil War Museum. After a warm welcome by Museum Director Frank Smith, Rep. Norton spoke about the sacrifice made by DC Veterans and the importance of achieving full voting rights for all residents of the District of Columbia. She then presented a replica of the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal to DOTAs including Major L. Anderson II, who spoke about his military experience and his pride in receiving the honor by saying, "I have been blessed." His remarks were followed by those of DOTA and DC Native William T. Fauntroy, Jr., who started by saying, "I am home." Mayor Gray and DC Votes Executive Director Kimberly Perry rounded out the program, which was followed by photos and a mouth-watering Southern-style lunch for the approximately 100 guests. In attendance were ECCTAI DOTAs Edward Talbert and Ivan Ware, and ECCTAI members Norm Artis, Quinn and Ida Patterson, Monica Smith, Chris Smith, Pat Talbert Smith, and Ferman Travers. Media outlets represented included Fox5, WRC4, WTOP, WNEW, and The Washington Post. Photographer Chris Smith has posted photos at: www.ECCTAI.SmugMug.com. (Source: Pat Talbert Smith; ECCTAI Heritage Member) DC Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (l) and DOTA
Major L. Anderson II
Mr. Jim Gardner (2nd from left), of the Atlanta Chapter TAI Board of Directors, joined veteran golfers for the 1st Annual Richard Joseph Halford Legacy Golf Tournament on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013 in support of the Richard Joseph Halford Legacy Foundation. Atlanta Police Officer Richard J. Halford, a veteran helicopter pilot since 1996 with the Atlanta Police Department (APD) Aviation unit, was killed in the line of duty on Nov. 3, 2012. He had served 26 years with APD. The foundation in memory of Officer Halford was established by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl E. Halford, to provide financial support to law enforcement officers pursuing careers in aviation.
ACTAI Supports RJH Foundation
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ACTAI honors Coca Cola for support of Veterans
The Coca Cola Company held their 14th Annual Veterans Day Celebration on November 14, 2013. The event was held at their business complex near downtown Atlanta. During the celebration, the Atlanta Chapter TAI recognized Coca Cola for
<< Gregory Grant (right) speaks on Coca Cola's support and celebration of the U.S. Armed Forces veterans at The Coca Cola Company complex near downtown Atlanta on Nov. 14, 2013. Left to right are John W. Phillips, President of the Military Veterans Business Resource Group; documented original Tuskeg-ee Airmen Val Archer and Hilliard Pouncy; and Steve Cahillane, President, Coca-Cola Americas. (Photo by Stan Coleman)
>>Retired 1st Sgt. Michael Schlitz, an Iraqi war veteran injured by an improvised exposive device in Southwest Asia, shares a photo opportunity with ACTAI members Greg Grant (left) and DOTAs Hilliard Pouncy and Val Archer.(Photo by Stan Coleman)
Airman Honored at Connecticut Golf Tournament New Britain, Conn.– Some 120 golfers and nearly 200 post-golf dinner guests came out in force in New Britain on Friday, September 27, 2013 showing their support for local veterans to the tune of $10,000 raised at the Fifth Annual Golden Kielbasa Veterans Open charity golf tournament and dinner.
The event, presented by Farmington Bank and hosted by the Disabled American Veterans, Hardware City Chapter 8 (DAV), once again affirmed its place as Central Connecticut’s signature charity golf tournament benefitting veterans. Proceeds from the event benefit the DAV, House of Heroes Connecticut and Friends of Fisher House Connecticut.
The day and evening were highlighted by ceremonies honoring Tuskegee Airman and New Britain resident Connie Nappier, Jr., a Hartford native, who was a flight officer with the
segregated 477th Bombardment Group of the famed air corps, which served the nation during World War II with honor and distinction despite facing enormous obstacles and being subjected to severe racial discrimination.
”It was a fine time to be allowed to stand here and get recognition for having served,” said DOTA Nappier. “When I volunteered many years ago many folks tried to make you believe that African Americans were not really Americans, but we knew better.”
With about a dozen family and friends looking on along with the large gathering of supporters, DOTA Nappier was saluted by State Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Linda Schwartz, City of New Britain Mayor Tim O’Brien and Connecticut Veterans History Project Director Eileen Hurst.
Also during the ceremonies, Nappier was designated an Honorary Knight of the Order of St. Michael, a prestigious award from the Army Aviation Association of America. DAV Chapter 8 Commander Ron Pelletier presented a $1,000 check to the Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation in DOTA Nappier’s name.
Eastern Region News (cont’d)
their national support of veterans outreach and employment opportunities.
ACTAI presented Coca Cola with a marble obelisk decorated with coins representing the Tuskegee Airmen experience and the 14 years of annual Coca Cola celebrations to honor our U. S. Armed Forces veterans. “As chapter members, we’ve attended quite a few Veterans Day celebrations Coca Cola has held,” said Gregory Grant, ACTAI. “Many of us felt that Coca Cola should be recognized for their support of our country’s veterans.” Among the invited guests and Coca Cola employee veterans were retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Michael Schlitz—the keynote speaker, and the 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus.
The Atlanta Chapter presented The Coca Cola Com-pany with a marble obelisk decorated with coins representing the Tuskegee Airmen experience and coins signifying 14 years of annual Coca Cola Vet-erans Day celebrations to honor our U. S. Armed Forces veterans on Nov. 14, 2013. (Photo courtesy of Greg Grant) Copyright 2013 Gregory Grant/Atlanta Chapter Tuskegee Airmen-PR
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Announcements
National FlyOver Commemorating 70th Anniversary Ending WWII in 2015. Planning is underway and the Air Force Association (AFA) is seeking TAI participation in the event. The official countdown began December 20, 2013, with a press conference at the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, Louisiana. Contact: Willie Jones, Presi-dent, Major General Joseph A. McNeil Chapter.
Iconic Red-Tailed P-51 Mustangs Flying Over Columbus and Central Ohio Once Again! Ohio State University has honored the Tuskegee Airmen and their education legacy with a 3x6 foot, full-color banner in the Don Scott Field terminal lobby. As pictures of two P-51's line up to make a run, visitors are told “Welcome to Columbus, Ohio, Last Home of the WWII Tuskegee Airmen. Keeping the history alive for another generation through EDUCATION.” The Ohio State University Airport (Don Scott Field) is one of the highest income-per-capita gate-ways to Columbus and Central Ohio. Nearly everyday, some combination of business execu-tives, Ohio State alumni, parents and friends, celebrities, professional golfers and others pass through the terminal. This great honor was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Ohio Memorial Chapter-TAI, Ohio State College of Engineering Dean David Williams, University Airport Director Doug Hammon, Ohio State's Center for Aviation Studies Director Seth Young, and other supporters at Don Scott and Ohio State. (Pete Miller, OMC-TAI, Advi-sor - Tuskegee Airmen Education Center & Museum, Columbus Ohio, [email protected])
Wilkinson Elected New TAI Financial Secretary During a recent meeting of the Board of Directors, Mr. Stephan Wilkinson of the Maj. Gen. Irene-Trowell Harris Chapter TAI (MJITH-TAI), was elected to serve out the remaining term as TAI Financial Secretary. In announcing the election, TAI President Leon Johnson asked all board members to assist in helping Mr. Wilkinson transition into his new role. Wikinson has been serving as the Financial Secretary for MJITH-TAI Chapter since being elected to that position in 2011. As the Chapter’s Youth Mentor since 2011, Wilkinson teaches weekly classes in writing and aviation history to students in the Lee A. Archer Jr. Red Tail Youth Program. In 2012, he created the quarterly “Red Tail Report,” a youth-programs newsletter for the entire TAI membership. Please welcome Stephan Wilkinson to the TAI Board of Directors.
SPEAKER REQUESTS:
General Motors African Ancestry Network requests a Tuskegee Airman or a TAI rep to speak at our 1st Black History month program, Feb-14 in the Buffalo, NY area. Contact Nina S. Price, MBA, Senior Business Planner, 716-512-1536 (mobile) or [email protected]
Anchor Bay High School, Macomb County, MI, Unit MI-931 Air Force Junior ROTC unit’s Military Ball in May 2014. Specifically requests LTC Alexander Jefferson. Contact Jeffrey A. Carrothers, Colonel, USAF (Retired) Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, 586-648-2500, ext 2357, C: 586-719-5254 or <[email protected]>
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Brigadier General Stayce Harris, TAI 2nd Vice President, for promotion to Major General. Congratulations Major General Harris!
Research Inquiry - Tuskegee Airmen Meteorologists
Requesting interviews with surviving Airmen or any surviving members of the Tuskegee Weather detachment who can speak about the contributions and roles of the weather officers to their missions during WWII. Contact Edward Bruno-Gaston <[email protected]> or 770-337-4361
Hangar 2/Skyway Club Commemoration
Tuskegee, AL. -- Hangar 2 and the Skyway Club will open Saturday, February 15, 2014. The commemoration ceremony will mark the end of eight years of historical preservation and restoration of Moton field from 2005 to 2013. The event is free and open to the public. Hangar 2, completed in 1944 in response to expanding operations, was designed to include the control tower and parachute packing area, Link Trainer room, and support facilities. This museum will offer contemporary exhibits that focus on the broader story of the Tuskegee Airmen, their descendants, and those inspired by these heroes of WWII. The Skyway Club is restored in furnishings of the 1940’s period; replicating the space where the Airmen relaxed. Various interior photo exhibits, a juke box, and classic “Skyway” bar extend the experience, taking you back in time, while rocking chairs line the porches. Learn more at www.nps.gov/tuai.
Renew your membership by January 2014 to be able to vote in 2014 TAI elections.
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Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) Na onal Office P.O. Box 830060
Tuskegee, AL 36083 (334) 421-0198
Fax: (334) 725-8205
Administra ve Director Maggie Thomas
Public Rela ons Officer Sandra J. Campbell
TAI MISSION
www.tuskegeeairmen.org
Honoring the accomplishments and perpetua ng the history of African-Americans who par cipated in air crew, ground crew and opera ons support training in the Army Air Corps during WWII.
Introducing young people across the na on to the world of avia on and science through local and na onal programs such as Young
Eagles and TAI youth programs and ac vi es.
Providing educa onal assistance to students and awards to deserving individuals, groups and corpora ons whose deeds lend support to TAI's goals. TAI also supports the Tuskegee Airmen
Award presented to deserving cadets in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program.
"Tuskegee Airmen" refers to all who were involved in the so-called "Tuskegee Experience” — the Army Air Corps program to train African Americans to fly and maintain combat aircra . The Tuskegee Airmen
included pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintenance and support staff, instructors, and all the personnel who kept the planes in the air.
TAI newsletters are published electronically and posted on the national TAI website. The newsletter is via e-mail to the National Board of Directors for dissemination to TAI members without access to the internet.
