[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 64 (Thursday, May 1, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E829-E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              PROCLAMATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2003

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 3, 2003, the 
Chicago ``DODO'' Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, in concert 
with Black Pilots of America will honor three of aviation's pioneer 
women of color, Bessie Coleman, Willa Beatrice Brown and Janet Harmon;
  Bessie Coleman journeyed to France in 1920 to enter the field of 
aviation, planning to return to America to open an aviation program for 
African Americans; and
  Bessie Coleman died on April 30, 1926, while preparing for an air 
show to benefit the Negro Welfare League of Jacksonville, Florida;
  In 1939, Willa B. Brown held a limited commercial pilot's license 
issued by the United States Commerce Department; and
  Managed the Coffey School of Aeronautics, which was awarded a 
government contract to train the first group of African-American 
aviators, and was the first African-American woman to hold a United 
States Civil Air Patrol Commission;
  Janet Harmon was one of the first African-American women to purchase 
an airplane, which she then made available to the Challenger Air Pilots 
Association for training purposes; and
  Served as surrogate advisor to the first group of African-American 
aviation cadets for the United States Army Air Force:
  Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Danny K. Davis, duly elected by 
the people of the Illinois 7th Congressional District, do hereby join 
with the ``DODO'' Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated, in concert 
with Black Pilots of America hereby proclaim;
  Saturday, May 3, 2003, to be the day we celebrate as Aviation Pioneer 
Women of Color Day in Chicago and all over America; and urge all people 
to take note of the pioneering contributions to aviation made by these 
women of color;
  Done, this 3rd day of May, 2003.

[[Page E830]]



                          ____________________