U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures introduces bill for Tuskegee Airmen Memorial in Washington, DC
WASHINGTON, DC (WAKA) – U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Alabama) has introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the Tuskegee Airmen with a memorial in Washington, DC.
Figures says the bill has the support of the entire Alabama U.S. House delegation, as well as U.S. Representatives from several other states.
The bill would authorize Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. to establish a memorial on federal land in Washington. Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. is a national nonprofit founded to preserve the history and achievements of the Tuskegee Airmen and engage with youth to inspire careers in aviation, aerospace and STEM.
From Associated Press
There were more than 16,000 men and women who are all considered “Tuskegee Airmen” for their military service in the 1940s, including during World War II. The Tuskegee Airmen played a vital role in desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces.
FILE – Tuskegee Airmen, from left, Audley Coulthurst of New York, William Johnson of Glen Cove, N.Y., Wilfred R. DeFour of New York, and Herbert C. Thorpe of Rome, N.Y., are honored by members of the New York Assembly upon their 75th Anniversary of the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps during a recognition ceremony in the Assembly Chamber at the state Capitol, June 16, 2016, in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)
“Their courage, skill and unwavering dedication not only contributed to the Allied victory but also helped pave the way for the desegregation of the U.S. military. Their contributions to our country deserve to be memorialized in our nation’s capital, and I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to make that a reality.”
READ: Bill to establish Tuskegee Airmen Memorial in Washington, DC
