House Concurrent Resolution 20

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE FOURTH THURSDAY IN MARCH, AS "TUSKEGEE AIRMEN COMMEMORATION DAY" AND ENCOURAGING THE CITIZENS OF MISSISSIPPI TO COMMEMORATE ITS SPECIAL OBSERVANCE OF THE HEROIC MEN WHO SERVED AS TUSKEGEE AIRMEN ON THAT DATE EACH YEAR.

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi takes great pride in the 15 service members from the state who served as Tuskegee Airmen during World War II; and

WHEREAS, prior to World War II, African Americans had very limited roles in the defense of the nation and no role in military aviation; and

WHEREAS, the United States Army War College issued a grossly inaccurate and disparaging "Official Report" in 1925 with the intent to relegate African Americans to menial duty positions in the military; and

WHEREAS, more African Americans were receiving higher education by the time the United States was drawn into World War II, and therefore many were aspiring to more meaningful jobs in the military, including the role of airplane pilot; and

WHEREAS, the rapid expansion of aircraft production to meet the demand for air power during World War II in turn created a greater need for military pilots; and

WHEREAS, the public outcry from the African-American population, African-American media, and fair-minded people of all races resulted in the United States War Department extending the opportunity to fly airplanes to all military members, regardless of race; and

WHEREAS, the War Department's Civilian Pilot Training (CPT) Program authorized colleges and universities to train civilian students to increase the number of civilian pilots, thus contributing to military preparedness; and

WHEREAS, the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama was one of six African-American colleges and universities chosen to participate in the CPT Program, and helped open the door for the first

African-American military pilots; and

WHEREAS, in 1942, five men received the silver wings of Army Air Force pilots and were the first African Americans to qualify as military pilots in any branch of the Unites States Armed Forces; and

WHEREAS, by the end of World War II, almost 1,000 African Americans had won their silver wings at Tuskegee Army Air Field, and almost half of those African Americans went on to serve the country in the European and Mediterranean theaters as combat mission fighter pilots; and

WHEREAS, the Tuskegee Airmen flew more than 15,000 sorties; destroyed over 1,000 German aircraft; received hundreds of Air Medals and more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses; and lost very few bomber aircraft to enemy air action during escort missions; and

WHEREAS, the outstanding performance record of the Tuskegee Airmen was unprecedented in military aviation history, thus disproving every adverse, prejudiced contention barring African Americans from becoming pilots prior to World War II; and

WHEREAS, the Tuskegee Airmen overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most prestigious, decorated and respected fighting groups of World War II; and

WHEREAS, March is a special month for the Tuskegee Airmen as it was the month that the first cadets received their silver wings, the first maintenance crew began training at Chanute Field, Illinois, the first Pursuit Squadron (99th) was activated and President George W. Bush, in 2007, presented the Congressional Gold Medal to the Tuskegee Airmen; and

WHEREAS, the people of Mississippi in recognition of the Tuskegee Airmen's heroic efforts firmly believe that it is fitting and proper to designate and observe the fourth Tuesday in March as "Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day":

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby designate the fourth Thursday in March, as "Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day" and encourage the citizens of Mississippi to commemorate its special observance of the heroic men who served as Tuskegee Airmen on that date each year.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.