JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
More than 40 U.S. Service members and Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Tidewater Chapter attendees gathered for a mural unveiling at the Exchange at Langley Air Force Base, Va., June 18, 2015.
The Langley Exchange manager, Army and Air Force Exchange Services Marketing Office and the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Tidewater Chapter crafted the mural to honor the lives of three deceased members of the local Tuskegee Airmen Inc. chapter; Ret. Lt. Col. Frances L. Horne Sr., Ret. Chief Master Sgt. Grant S. Williams Sr., and Mr. Lawrence "Larry" E. Anderson Jr.
"The Tuskegee Airmen Mural was done to honor the contributions of the men and women of the Tuskegee Experience during World War II," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Tony Levine, 718th Intelligence Squadron superintendent. "The display will remind and educate military members and civilians on the contributions of these trailblazers for years to come."
During WWII, the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII were a group of African American pilots, navigators, bombardiers, maintainers, support staff and instructors who faced racial discrimination while serving in the Army Air Corps. Despite the hardships, the 992 Airmen completed 1,578 combat missions and 179 bomber escort missions, and earned three Distinguished Unit Citations.
For Levine, honoring these aviation pioneers is an important part of remembering history.
"It is important to always honor the accomplishments and perpetuate the history of African-Americans who participated in the Army Air Corps during WWII," added Levine. "I am profoundly proud, honored, and humbled to stand on the shoulders of these great men and women that paved the way for all of us today."
For more information, visit the chapter's website at http://www.tai-tidewaterchapter.com.