UM Tuskegee Airman honored
LANHAM ? When the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that Congress can bestow upon civilians, was presented to the Tuskegee Airmen March 29, Charles H. Flowers was among the more than 300 of the original Tuskegee Airmen to attend the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.
Flowers, 88, shared his experience and showed his medal to the congregation of Ebenezer UMC, where he is a member. In 2000, Prince George?s County named a high school in Springdale in his honor.
In May 1942, Flowers became the first African-American, military-trained flight instructor at Tuskegee (Ala.) Institute, where 'I personally instructed over 100 pilots that went to war,' he said. 'And I didn?t get shot at.'
The Tuskegee Airmen?s distinguished service 60 years ago during World War II led to the integration of the armed services. They returned from the war to a country that rejected them and treated them unfairly.
'I would like to offer a gesture to help atone for all the unreturned salutes and unforgivable indignities,' said President George Bush at the ceremony. He then saluted the airmen, who rose together to return the salute as the crowd burst into applause.
Login/Register to leave comment