[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 13 (Monday, April 2, 2007)]
[Pages 387-388]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee 
Airmen

March 29, 2007

    Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. Madam Speaker, Mr. 
Leader, Members of Congress, Secretary Powell, distinguished guests: You 
know, the Speaker and I had the honor of having our picture taken with 
you, and as I walked into the rotunda, a place that, occasionally, I get 
invited up here and I walk into, I was impressed by the fact that I 
wasn't amongst heroes who were statues; I was impressed that I was 
amongst heroes who still live. I thank you for the honor you have 
brought to our country. And the medal you're about to receive means our 
country honors you, and rightly so.
    And I want to thank Senator Carl Levin and Sergeant Rangel. 
[Laughter] Excuse me, Mr. Chairman. I thank you for your leadership on 
this issue. I have a strong interest in World War II airmen; I was 
raised by one. He flew with a group of brave young men who endured 
difficult times in the defense of our country.
    Yet for all they sacrificed and all they lost, in a way, they were 
very fortunate, because they never had the burden of having their every 
mission, their every success, their every failure viewed through the 
color of their skin.

[[Page 388]]

Nobody told them they were a credit to their race. Nobody refused to 
return their salutes. Nobody expected them to bear the daily 
humiliations while wearing the uniform of their country.
    It was different for the men in this room. When America entered 
World War II, it might have been easy for them to do little for our 
country. After all, the country didn't do much for them. Even the Nazis 
asked why African American men would fight for a country that treated 
them so unfairly. Yet the Tuskegee Airmen were eager to join up.
    You know, I'm interested in the story about a young man who was so 
worried that the Army might change its mind about allowing him to fly, 
that he drove immediately to the train station. He left his car, as well 
as $1,000 worth of photography equipment. He never saw his car; he never 
saw his camera; but he became a flyer.
    These men in our presence felt a special sense of urgency. They were 
fighting two wars: One was in Europe, and the other took place in the 
hearts and minds of our citizens. That's why we're here. The white 
commander of the Tuskegee airfield was once asked, with all seriousness, 
``How do African Americans fly?''--kind of reflecting the ignorance of 
the times, they said, ``How do African Americans fly?'' He said, ``Oh, 
they fly just like everybody else flies--stick and rudder.'' [Laughter]
    Soon, Americans in their kitchens and living rooms were reading the 
headlines. You probably didn't realize it at the time, but you were 
making headlines at home, headlines that spoke about daring pilots 
winning a common battle.
    And little by little, every victory at war was translated to a 
victory here in the United States. And we're in the presence of men who 
are earning those victories, important victories, leaders who pierced 
the unquestioned prejudices of a different society. You gave African 
Americans a sense of pride and possibility.
    You saw that pride and awe--I'm sure you remember--in the faces of 
young children who came up to you right after the war and tugged on your 
uniforms and said, ``Mister, can you really fly an airplane?'' Some of 
you have been in Germany and Iraq, and you still see that sense of 
pride.
    I appreciate your going. I appreciate the fact that one of our young 
soldiers today took pictures for a--of you for a scrapbook for his 
children. I appreciate the fact that one of our soldiers today said, 
``It is not often that you get a chance to meet the guys who have paved 
the path for you.''
    The Tuskegee Airmen helped win a war, and you helped change our 
Nation for the better. Yours is the story of the human spirit, and it 
ends like all great stories do--with wisdom and lessons and hope for 
tomorrow. And the medal that we confer today means that we're doing a 
small part to ensure that your story will be told and honored for 
generations to come.
    And I would like to offer a gesture to help atone for all the 
unreturned salutes and unforgivable indignities. And so, on behalf of 
the Office I hold and a country that honors you, I salute you for the 
service to the United States of America.

Note: The President spoke at 2:23 p.m. at the Capitol. In his remarks, 
he referred to former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. The Office of 
the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language transcript of these 
remarks.