[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 27 (Friday, February 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RED TAIL PILOTS TRIBUTE EVENT HOSTED BY THE YMCA OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AND 
                            LOCKHEED MARTIN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 17, 2012

  Ms. BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
Central Florida YMCA for their ``Red Tail Pilots Tribute'' event to 
congratulate the Tuskegee Airmen.
  I am very pleased to talk about the pioneers who laid the groundwork 
for what we as African Americans have been able to accomplish over the 
last 70 years. In fact, when President Roosevelt began training African 
American troops, the Tuskegee Airmen excelled in protecting the bombers 
attacking enemy positions better that any other units in the United 
States Army Air Force.
  And every single one of the first class of pilots of what became 
known as the Tuskegee Airmen had a college degree. One of them was 
Benjamin O. Davis, a graduate of the Untied States Military Academy at 
West Point, who became the first African American to earn 3 stars in 
the United States Air Force.
  In 1940, the Selective Service and Training Service Act, enacting the 
first peace-time draft in the United States' history was signed into 
law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Under the Act, all American 
males between the ages of twenty-one and thirty-five years had to 
register for the draft . . . and it went on to say ``there shall be no 
discrimination against any person on account of race or color.''
  Following this, the first aviation class at the Tuskegee Institute 
with 13 cadets began in 1941. In March 1942, five of the 13 cadets in 
the first class completed the Army Air Corps pilot training program and 
earned their silver wings and became the nation's first black military 
pilots.
  Soon afterwards, the newly formed United States Air Force began plans 
to integrate its units as early as 1947, and in 1948, President Harry 
Truman enacted Executive Order Number 9981, which directed equality of 
treatment and opportunity to all in the United States Armed Forces. 
This order, in time, led to the end of racial segregation in the 
military forces. This was also the first step toward racial integration 
in the United States of America.
  Beyond a doubt, the positive experience, the outstanding record of 
accomplishments and the superb behavior of the black airmen during 
World War II, and after, were important factors leading up to the 
historical social change that led to racial equality in America.
  The Tuskegee Airmen will live on forever in the pages of history 
because they accepted the challenge proudly, and succeeded in proving 
to the world that blacks could fly. These men fought two wars--one 
against a military enemy force overseas and another one against racism 
at home.
  I am reminded of the words of the first President of the United 
States, George Washington, whose words are worth repeating at this 
time:
  ``The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in 
any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to 
how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and 
appreciated by their country.''
  Thank you for your service for your country and your continued 
service for your fellow veteran in these difficult times we all endure.

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