[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 40 (Thursday, March 8, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E486]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY TO AWARD THE CONGRESSIONAL 
                 MEDAL OF HONOR TO THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 6, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for 
use of the Capitol Rotunda for the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold 
Medal Ceremony. The bill to award the Gold Medal passed unanimously on 
February 28, 2006 with bipartisan support. This was a long time coming. 
The Tuskegee Airmen, along with their families and friends are very 
happy that they will finally receive the highest honor this great body 
can award. The President will present the Gold Medal on March 29, 2007. 
Other dignitaries and leaders will also be present to witness this very 
historical event.
  The Tuskegee Airmen are a distinguished group of World War II African 
American veterans who fought against segregation and discrimination at 
home and the enemy abroad. Their fight was with dignity, steadfastness, 
and pride. After completing training in Tuskegee, Alabama, they bravely 
headed to Europe to defend their country. They completed 15,500 
missions, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft, sank 1 enemy destroyer, and 
demolished numerous enemy installations. During their service, the 
Airmen earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 
Purple Hearts, and 14 Bronze Stars. That is remarkable.
  The Tuskegee Airmen were trailblazers and paved the way for other 
African Americans to serve and defend the U.S. Their exemplary work and 
commitment demonstrated once again that African Americans were not only 
highly capable, but willing to serve and die for freedom. As a Korean 
war veteran, I'm honored to have benefited from their courage and 
service to the military and the Nation.
  As I express my support for using the Capitol Rotunda to honor great 
men who have served our country, I must pay honor to the men and women 
who are on the battlefield today. We must never forget their 
immeasurable sacrifices. I urge you to support this resolution and to 
keep our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

                          ____________________