The Air Force Academy honors Tuskegee airmen at 75th anniversary
The Air Force Academy honored Tuskegee airmen Monday morning at their annual celebration.
The ceremony recognizes a major milestone in Air Force history by celebrating the first African-American aviators to serve in World War II.
“When we were very young we didn’t realize we were going to be such a big part of history and when you’re only 19 years old you don’t think about that,” Franklin Macon said.
Macon was one of the original African-American military pilots to fight in World War II.
“It’s something that happened for the country and we should never forget the sacrifices a lot of us made,” Macon said.
The Tuskegee Airmen, at a time of racial segregation in the military, answered the call to arms and trained in Tuskegee, Alabama. By the end of the war, 992 men had graduated from pilot training, 450 of whom were sent overseas for combat assignments.
“They didn’t want people to know about the Tuskegee airmen because the program was too successful. It wasn’t supposed to happen,” said James Harvey, an original Tuskegee airman.
Now, it’s considered an aviation milestone. A sculpture at the Air Force Academy that is crafted by former airman Clarence Shivers, is a reminder of the milestone.
“He said he wanted to be sure that when you looked at it, you knew it was a black man. Secondly, wanted you to know that black man was a very proud black man,” said Peggy Shivers, wife of Clarence Shivers.
Cadets at the Air Force say being able to interact with the original Tuskegee airmen, is a humbling experience.
“Continuing what the Tuskegee airmen started, just continuing that legacy of representing America, of really standing for excellence regardless of what you look like,” said Samuel Sentongo, cadet 3rd Class.
Years later as the wreath is laid, the airmen remember the discrimination.
“It’s completely different,” said Randolph Edwards, another original Tuskegee airman.
But also the moments that led them to be a piece of history.
“It was a long time coming. This thing took place in 1945,” Edwards said.
The celebration is organized and hosted by USAFA’s Way of Life Committee and the Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
