Community, Airmen replace Tuskegee Airman's lost medal

Four of the documented original Tuskegee Airmen pay their respects to the American flag at the Air Force Academy July 22, 2011, during a ceremony to present former 2nd Lt. Franklin Macon, an original Tuskegee Airman, with a bronze replica of the Tuskegee Airmen medal. Macon's original medal replica was stolen from his home May 31. Pictured are, from left: retired Col. Lowell Bell, former Aviation Cadet Randy Edwards, retired Capt. Sam Hunter Jr. and Macon. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Community, Airmen replace Tuskegee Airman's lost medal

Master Sgt. Amy Wilson sets up the Air Force chief of staff's flag during setup for a ceremony at the Air Force Academy July 22, 2011. Airmen from the Academy and the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base collaborated to put together the ceremony to present former 2nd Lt. Franklin Macon, one of the documented original Tuskegee Airman, with a bronze Tuskegee Airmen medal replica. Macon's original medal replica was stolen from his home May 31. Wilson is the superintendent of the Academy's Protocol office. (U.S. Air Force photo/Don Branum)

Community, Airmen replace Tuskegee Airman's lost medal

Cadet 1st Class Frederick Johnson holds a bronze replica of the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony in honor of local documented original Tuskegee Airmen at the Air Force Academy July 22, 2011. Airmen with the 21st Space Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., purchased the medal replica to replace one stolen May 31 from the home of former 2nd Lt. Franklin Macon. Airmen at the Academy invited Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to present the medal. Johnson, an Atlanta native, is assigned to Cadet Squadron 14 and served as proffer during the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray McCoy)

Community, Airmen replace Tuskegee Airman's lost medal

Suzie Schwartz and Paula Gould thank former Aviation Cadet Randy Edwards, former 2nd Lt. Franklin Macon and retired Capt. Sam Hunter, Jr. for their service to the United States during a ceremony at the Air Force Academy July 22, 2011. The Academy hosted the ceremony to present a replacement bronze Tuskegee Airman medal replica to Macon, whose original replica was stolen in a home burglary May 31. Schwartz is the wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, and Gould is the wife of Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray McCoy)

Air Force Academy holds Independence Day bash

Thomas Wilson conducts a Colorado Springs Philharmonic performance in Falcon Stadium at the Air Force Academy July 4, 2011, while in the background, basic cadets get some welcome down time from Basic Cadet Training. Wilson, the philharmonic's associate conductor, began studying piano at age 4 and later learned the trumpet, percussion, string bass and voice. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)

Air Force Academy holds Independence Day bash

Col. Thomas Gibson and Colorado Springs Mayor Steve Bach take the stage to greet visitors at the Air Force Academy's Fourth of July celebration in Falcon Stadium July 4, 2011. Colonel Gibson is the commander of the 10th Air Base Wing, which oversees security and force support for the Academy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Megan Davis)