DALLAS, Aug. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., the national organization that works to honor the accomplishments and perpetuate the history of the legendary young African-American men who enlisted during WWII to become America's first black military airmen, ground crew and mechanics, will be holding its 36th annual convention and related events in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area from August 21-26, 2007. The public is invited to attend several events during the convention, including the grand Awards Gala at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on Saturday, August 25th. Tickets for the Gala cost $95.
The black airmen who became single-engine or multi-engine pilots, navigators and support service during WWII were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee, Alabama. The first aviation cadet class began in July 1941 and completed training nine months later in March 1942. Four hundred and fifty of the pilots who were trained at TAAF served overseas in either the 99th Pursuit Squadron (later the 99th Fighter Squadron) or the 332nd Fighter Group. The Tuskegee Airmen, known as the Red Tails because of unique markings on their planes, built a distinguished record of service during the War, yet still faced discrimination after its conclusion because of their race. The surviving Original Tuskegee Airmen (OTAs) were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the most distinguished award bestowed by Congress, on March 29 of 2007.
In addition to keeping alive the history of the OTAs, Tuskegee Airmen Inc., which has 51 chapters nationwide, works to introduce young people to the world of aviation and science through local and national programs such as Young Eagles; and provides annual scholarships and awards to deserving individuals, groups and corporations whose deeds lend support to Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. goals.
The Tuskegee Airmen National Convention will be based at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, but the Tuskegee Airmen will be involved in events throughout the Metroplex during the week. The following events are all open to the media, and those specifically designated are open to the public:
-- Tuskegee Airmen Welcome Ceremony (August 22, 9:00 a.m.) - Love
Field/Frontiers of Flight Museum; Welcome and proclamation by Dallas
Mayor Tom Leppert and Southwest Airlines Executives.
-- Lonely Eagles Ceremony (August 22, 2:00 p.m.) - Gaylord Texan, Texas C
Ballroom; Ceremony recognizing Tuskegee Airmen who have passed away in
the previous year; open to the public.
-- Exhibit Hall Ribbon Cutting (August 22, 3:00 p.m.) - Gaylord Texan;
Opening of exhibit displaying memorabilia about Tuskegee Airmen, WWII
and other military history. The exhibit is open to the public and
will remain open until 6:00 pm on the 22nd, and then operate from
9:00 am to 6:00 pm on the 23rd, 24th and 25th.
-- Street Naming Ceremony & Luncheon (August 23, 10:30 a.m.) - Carswell
Naval Air Station; Ceremony renaming a street "Tuskegee Airmen
Boulevard," to include George Hardy, an Original Tuskegee Airman who
was stationed at Carswell in the 1950s, but was denied housing because
of his race.
-- Texas Rangers Tribute (August 24, 7:35 p.m.) - The Texas Rangers will
honor the Tuskegee Airmen during their game against the Seattle
Mariners; an Airmen will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch.
-- Air Show and Youth Luncheon (August 25, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) -
Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison Airport; Ceremony and scholarship
presentation with 300 local youth about the history of the Airmen and
the struggles they faced, will include military tribute and mini-air
show with vintage aircraft.
-- Awards Gala (August 25, 6:00 p.m.) - Gaylord Texan, Texas A & B
Ballroom; Semi-formal banquet honoring Tuskegee Airmen, to benefit the
Tuskegee Airmen National Youth Program; open to public, tickets cost
$95, and can be purchased by emailing Gordon Guillory at
airmeng@charter.net.
About Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) is a non-profit organization with 51 chapters nationwide dedicated to: honoring the accomplishments and perpetuating the history of African-Americans who participated in air crew, ground crew and operations support training in the Army Air Corps during WWII; introducing young people across the nation to the world of aviation and science through local and national programs such as Young Eagles and TAI youth programs; providing annual scholarships and awards to deserving individuals and groups whose deeds lend support to TAI's goals. TAI also gives awards to deserving cadets in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. For more information, visit http://www.tuskegeeairmen.org/
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.
