Academy honors Tuskegee Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Hammes
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  The Academy held a ceremony honoring the Tuskegee Airmen in Arnold Hall May 5.

Ret. Lt. Col. James H. Harvey III, the only original Tuskegee Airman in attendance, said events like this are important because the Tuskegee Airmen received so little attention after World War II ended.

"We weren't supposed to exist," he said. "We weren't supposed to graduate from Tuskegee University - we did. We weren't supposed to be successful - we were. We were too successful. We didn't get any recognition after the war."

The ceremony involved a wreath dedication by Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson, Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris, commander of the 22nd Air Force and Harvey. The wreath was originally meant to be laid over the grave of ret. Lt. Col. Clarence Shivers, a Tuskegee Airman who sculpted the Tuskegee memorial in the Honor Court here. Due to bad weather, the ceremony was moved indoors.

Cadet 3rd Class Montreal Johnson, the emcee for the ceremony, said interactions with Tuskegee Airmen are motivating for cadets.

"It's good to gather them here with the cadets, because it inspires us to achieve that kind of legacy and history," he said. "Having them here brings so much pride into what we do, and gives us a chance to remember why we came to the Academy. It's intimidating to see what the Tuskegee Airmen have accomplished, but we all want to rise to that."