[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 195 (Wednesday, November 19, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 19, 2025

  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I join in honoring the incredible legacy of 
Alabama's own Tuskegee Airmen, and paying my respects to Lieutenant 
Colonel George Hardy who was among the last of the original Tuskegee 
Airmen before he passed away in September. We owe him an enormous debt 
of gratitude that we will never fully repay.
  The legacy of the Tuskegee Airman is one of extraordinary courage and 
sacrifice that must never be forgotten or erased. In 1941, the United 
States Army launched what it called ``an experiment''--the segregated 
99th Fighter Squadron. It was decided that the squadron would train at 
an airfield in Tuskegee, Alabama, and thus, the Tuskegee Airmen were 
born. More than 16,000 brave men and women participated in the 
``Tuskegee Experience'' between 1941 and 1949, including 992 pilots who 
flew with distinction during World War II.
  Despite enduring the cruel injustice of segregation here at home, the 
aviators and support personnel persevered. They escorted bombers with 
unmatched skill, earned the respect of their peers, helped the Allied 
Forces defeat the Nazis, and paved the way for the desegregation of our 
military.
  The Tuskegee Airmen embody the very definition of American 
patriotism. They bravely fought and died for our freedoms before this 
nation even granted them the full benefits of citizenship. That is the 
depth of love of country that the Tuskegee Airmen so honorably 
displayed.
  Their story is not just Black history; it is American history. It is 
a story of excellence despite incredible odds, of patriotism in the 
face of discrimination, and of service without reservation. At this 
perilous time in our Nation's history, it has never been more important 
to keep their legacy alive. Earlier this year, on orders from President 
Trump, the Air Force removed references to the Tuskegee Airmen from its 
training curriculum. According to this administration, the heroism of 
the Tuskegee Airmen is nothing more than ``DEI.'' Little did President 
Trump know, Alabamians don't back down from a fight. When the news 
broke of their removal, Congressman Figures and I joined a chorus of 
Alabamians from every corner of our state, demanding they be 
reinstated. And thanks to our collective calls, they were.
  So today we honor the Tuskegee Airmen--and not only as heroes of war. 
We honor them as enduring symbols of our ongoing struggle for equality 
and justice.
  Let us recommit ourselves to that legacy. Let us ensure that their 
story is always taught in our schools, training programs, and public 
institutions. Let us ensure that every recruit, every citizen, and 
every generation knows who they were and why they matter.
  May their courage continue to inspire us, and may we always honor 
their service--not just in memory, but in education, in policy, and in 
our national conscience.

                          ____________________