[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 101 (Friday, June 14, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E639]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 83RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN AND THEIR 
                                HEROISM

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                      HON. NICHOLAS A. LANGWORTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 14, 2024

  Mr. LANGWORTHY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate and honor 
the Tuskegee Airmen as we celebrate their 83rd anniversary. As the 
United States fought to defend freedom with our allies in World War II, 
exceptional pilots in the fight for air superiority made the difference 
between victory and defeat.
  The Tuskegee Airmen stand out in history, as they not only had to 
carry the immeasurable weight of battle, but also had to fight racial 
discrimination.
  Prior to the Tuskegee Airmen's incorporation in 1941, the military 
was segregated, and the Army Air Forces did not accept African American 
pilots. In the face of this discrimination, these brave men stood up 
when their country and the world needed them most. They flew with skill 
and courage on critical missions, demonstrating that excellence knows 
no color, and that discrimination had no place in our military. The 
Tuskegee Airmen were among the most talented and decorated squadrons of 
World War II, earning 3 Presidential Unit Citations, 150 Distinguished 
Flying Crosses, 1 Legion of Merit, 1 Silver Star, 2 Soldier Medals, 8 
Purple Hearts, 14 bronze stars, 744 air medals, and 1 Red Star of 
Yugoslavia. Their heroism, bravery, and remarkable achievements 
contributed directly to the desegregation of the United States 
Military.
  On Saturday, May 25, 2024, veterans, officials, airmen, and their 
decedents gathered at Wings of Eagles Discovery Center to remember 
these amazing heroes and commemorate their significance nationally and 
their deep local ties to our community here in the Finger Lakes, 
Southern Tier, and Western New York. Their story will forever serve as 
a symbol of courage in the face of adversity.
  On Memorial Day and every day, we thank the men and women in uniform 
who have sacrificed so much so that we may live free. We owe them a 
debt of gratitude that cannot be repaid, both for defending our 
Nation's freedoms and advancing them for generations to come.

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