By TAI Communications Team

The 2024 National Convention and Annual Business Meeting of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) will be more than just a membership reunion, its organizers emphasized.

 “We come together annually to celebrate the courage, resilience and legacy of the pioneering Tuskegee Airmen, but we must also focus on the future,” said Convention Planning Committee Chair MaryAnne Drummond, who is also the National Parliamentarian for TAI. “That’s why we have selected the convention theme ‘Preserving Our History, Building Our Future.’ It’s a salute to our trailblazers, while acknowledging that we must continue building a pipeline of future aviation and aerospace professionals.”

Drummond’s father was an original Tuskegee Airman. As such, she is considered a “heritage” family member, one of many groups of about 200 regulars to include active-duty service members, military veterans, as well as defense and aviation industry officials who make an annual pilgrimage to the convention.

They gather to pay homage to the achievements of the nearly 19,000 World War II-era original Tuskegee Airmen. This year’s Convention event will be held Aug. 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport in Virginia. Preliminary events will be held Aug 12-14.

Drummond offered four compelling reasons to attend the 2024 convention:

1.EDUCATIONAL EMPOWERMENT. Did you know that in addition to the national TAI, Inc. based in Tuskegee, Alabama, there are more than 50 Tuskegee Airmen chapters around the nation and the U.S. Virgin Islands? The convention will be an opportunity to educate members on a range of topics, to include TAI policies, nonprofit financial management, how to recruit and sustain members, management of youth educational programs; best practices of chapter leadership; and how to develop strategic partnerships.

2. RECONNECT AND RECHARGE. The convention is a hub for reconnecting and recharging, with touch points on Heritage Day on Aug. 15, Military Day on Aug. 16, and Youth Day on Aug. 17. These specially themed days are opportunities to build community, collaborate and honor the legacy of the airmen. Further, for those who never miss a tee time, the annual Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Golf Classic is another occasion for renewal. Scheduled Aug. 12 and hosted by the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI), the golf classic is a fundraiser for the organization’s youth aviation programs. With the Washington, D.C., area being home to numerous military bases and organizations, it’s important to register early, since a larger-than-normal crowd is expected.

3. MEET AN ORIGINAL TUSKEGEE AIRMEN. The TAI convention is the most likely place to meet some of the few remaining Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen. Two retired Lt. Col. Shelton "Ivan" Ware and Yale graduate Lt. Col. "Woody" Woodhouse II are expected to attend, while two others will participate virtually. TAI will honor Ware, a 101-year-old Maryland resident, with its Hall of Fame Award. Convention-goers may have the chance to interact with them at events, such as book signings and panel discussions.

4. INVEST IN TOMORROW’S AVIATION & AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS. With the majority of original Tuskegee Airmen now in the Lonely Eagles Chapter of deceased service members, Drummond said promoting, preserving and protecting the legacy of the airmen are TAI priorities.

 “We are encouraging corporations and individuals to attend the convention,” Drummond said. “Their financial donations will help sustain our youth programs and initiatives.”

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WASHINGTON – Developed to raise funds for the organization’s Youth in Aviation and college scholarship programs, the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) will host a memorable day of golfing Aug. 12 at the Norbeck Country Club in Rockville, Maryland, one of the state’s premier courses.

Scheduled to tee off at 6:30 a.m., participants of ECCTAI’s General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.’s 33rd Annual Golf Classic will enjoy lush greens, challenging fairways, numerous prizes and an appetizing lunch, while contributing to a worthy cause.

"The annual golf classic is a wonderful opportunity to come together, enjoy a day of golf, and support programs that empower the next generation of aviators, aerospace professionals and scholars," said Robert Bullett, who chairs the golf tournament for ECCTAI.

The golf tournament will also be used to honor retired Lt. Col. Ivan “Shelton” Ware, a Documented Original Tuskegee Airman (DOTA). Ware was a charter member of ECCTAI and is the only surviving member of the group of original airmen who started the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

A graduate of Howard University and alumni of its Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, he was honored with the creation of a award, given to a deserving cadet in D.C.-area HBCUs. Ware was also among the DOTAs honored by President George W. Bush in 2007 at a Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal award ceremony.

In 2023, ECCTAI awarded $25,500 in educational grants to students with financial need, an increase of $7,500 over 2022 thanks to sponsors. ECCTAI also provided more than $20,000 to fund the Herb Jones, Jr. Youth in Aviation Program. Seven students also completed their training and flew solo in 2022.

The tournament is a preconvention activity of the 2024 Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.'s National Convention and Annual Business Meeting, which will be held from Aug. 14-17 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport in Crystal City, Virginia. The convention will bring together TAI members and chapters, supporters and aviation enthusiasts from across the nation to discuss future initiatives and celebrate the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

For more information about the golf tournament, visit this link.

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WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing commitment to enrich the academic experience of underserved students, in mid-August Coca-Cola Consolidated will donate 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.’s (ECCTAI) Youth in Aviation Program.

The backpacks will be distributed during the 2024 Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.’s (TAI) National Convention and Annual Business Meeting scheduled Aug. 14-17 in Crystal City, Virginia, to students from area high schools, including two named after Tuskegee Airmen: Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, Maryland.

"Coca-Cola Consolidated’s donation of backpacks and school supplies will ensure our students are well-prepared for the new school year,” said Jerome Hodge, president of ECCTAI. “This support is invaluable in helping us inspire and equip the next generation of aviation and aerospace professionals."

The TAI convention’s Youth Day on Aug. 17 caters to high school students with a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Planned activities include meetings with original Tuskegee Airmen, small-group STEM challenges and an opportunity to link up with the International Space Station, where local teens will communicate with Astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps.

In addition to the donation of school supplies, Coca-Cola Consolidated donated more than 200 beverages to ECCTAI and pledged its commitment to supporting the chapter’s Youth in Aviation Program.

“The Mid-Atlantic Market Unit and the Capitol Heights branch is proud to have a strong relationship with the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.,” said Aaron Bell, Coca-Cola Consolidated General Manager of Sales Operations for the Mid-Atlantic Market Unit. “Some 1,000 Black pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield and had great success escorting bombers during World War II.  We have been able to partner with our local chapter and airmen who live in Prince George’s County on various events. We are thankful for their military service and their partnership in the communities where we live and serve.”

The Tuskegee Airmen organization has more than 55 chapters across the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information about ECCTAI, visit https://ecctai.org/.

About the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc.

Founded in 1973, the East Coast Chapter Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) is the oldest and largest chapter of the renowned Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. ECCTAI has about 125 members from diverse backgrounds, which include Tuskegee Airmen heritage-kindred descendants, active-duty and retired military, civil servants and private citizens from all walks of life. At one time, the chapter included more than 50 Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, combat veterans of World War II who received their military training at Tuskegee, Alabama. ECCTAI provides educational assistance scholarships to students and produces a Youth in Aviation Program that preserves the Tuskegee Airmen legacy and supports workforce development initiatives in underserved and underrepresented communities. ECCTAI’s geographical focus area is the District of Columbia and its surrounding jurisdictions. The chapter is incorporated in Washington, D.C and has its 501(C)3 designation. 

About Coca-Cola Consolidated

Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, to serve others, to pursue excellence and to grow profitably. For over 122 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and are passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia, to approximately 60 million consumers. 

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE.” More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca-Cola Consolidated on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

WASHINGTON Centered on the theme “Preserving Our History, Building Our Future,” the 2024 Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI) National Convention and Annual Business Meeting will be held Aug. 15-18 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport in the Washington, D.C. area.

Organizers said the convention’s theme is a salute to the World War II Black service members’ achievements, while acknowledging a passing of the baton that laser-focuses TAI’s mission of exposing young people to the worlds of aviation and science.

“Our annual convention is an opportunity to celebrate the rich legacy of the pioneering Tuskegee Airmen,” said Jerry Burton, president of TAI. “But we must also use it to reinvigorate our mission of propelling the next generation of leaders and trailblazers to heightened success.”

The convention will feature an impressive lineup of activities and events: At least two Airmen retired Lt. Col. Shelton "Ivan" Ware and Yale graduate retired Brig. Gen. Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse II are expected to attend the convention and be available for interviews. Two others are expected to participate via Zoom. TAI will honor Ware, a 101-year-old Maryland resident, with its Hall of Fame Award.

Heritage Day on Aug. 15 will be highlighted by luncheon speaker Bruce Jones, Pentagon lead for the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial at Ramitelli Air Field, Italy. Jones will co-present with Marco Altobello, director of the Red Tails museum in Campomarino, Italy.

A "Spouses' Tea and Love Stories" session on Aug. 15 includes wives sharing first-hand accounts about their lives with the Tuskegee Airmen.

Youth Day on Aug. 17 offers a linkup with the ARISS International Space Station, where local teens will communicate with Astronaut Dr. Jeanette Epps.

An exciting preconvention activity is also planned. The East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. will hold its annual fundraiser Golf Tournament on Aug. 12.

The Tuskegee Airmen organization has more than 55 chapters across the country and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information about the convention, visit this link.

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The East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (ECCTAI) will host its annual Youth Achievement Recognition Breakfast from 9 a.m.-noon June 1 at the Harborside Hotel in Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The breakfast will honor the accomplishments of youth who completed Levels 2 and 3 of ECCTAI’s Herbert H. Jones Jr. Youth in Aviation Program (YIAP) and the recipients of 2024 financial educational assistance awards managed by the chapter’s Scholarship Committee.

The aviation program inspires and supports young people interested in careers in aviation and aerospace, providing them with exposures, resources and guidance to achieve their dreams.

Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Clarence “CJ” Johnson, a Senior Executive Service member and former Senior Diversity and Inclusion Adviser for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is the keynote speaker.

ECCTAI members should wear the chapter uniform of red blazer with the organization’s patch on the left chest pocket; white shirt with tie or collar tab, as appropriate; black slacks or skirts; and black shoes.

Registration is required to attend the breakfast. For more information, contact communications@ecctai.org.

WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) join in celebrating a message from President Joseph Biden recognizing Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day on March 28.

In February 2023, in partnership with the East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated (ECCTAI) and the national Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated (TAI), Blunt Rochester and Holmes Norton led a group of members requesting President Biden formally recognize Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day on the fourth Thursday in March.

In a successful effort, the president has recognized March 28, 2024, as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day. “I am so proud to join my colleague, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, in celebrating Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day and this message by President Biden,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “When we called on the president to recognize this day last year, we did so in honor of the heroic sacrifices made by these men and women in our country’s hour of need, as well as their trailblazing legacy for black members of our military and Black aviators at large. We are so grateful to the Tuskegee Airmen for their perseverance and unparalleled success. This is a terrific day for the state of Delaware, which is home to a rich history and lineage of Tuskegee Airmen. I look forward to marking this day each year going forward.”

"As an elite corps of African American pilots and crew, as well as others, who fought in World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen deserve this recognition from President Biden," Holmes Norton said. "Thank you, President Biden, for your acknowledgement. It will be deeply meaningful to the veterans, their family members, and the succeeding generations of Black service members who surely deserve our thanks. Thank you to Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester for her partnership in the effort to bring this group of brave Black servicemen and women the recognition they deserve."

Jerry Burton, president of TAI, and Jerome Hodge, president of ECCTAI, also issued a joint statement about the presidential salute.
“President Biden’s recognition of Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day reaffirms the enduring legacy of these trailblazers and their contributions to the military and society,” the statement said. “This acknowledgment not only celebrates the airmen’s historic achievements, but also motivates us to continue inspiring future generations to soar beyond any limits imposed by prejudice or discrimination."

The Tuskegee Airmen were pilots, ground crews and support personnel serving in segregated units of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. As the Black flying units in the U.S. Army, their many successes paved the way for the desegregation of the U.S. military. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen runs through six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that participated in a trailblazing pilot training program which opened access to Black Americans by the Civilian Pilot Training Act in 1939. The achievements of these pilots laid the critical groundwork for the legendary military service that would begin just two years later.

The month of March holds significance for the Tuskegee Airmen: The first Tuskegee Airmen cadets received their wings in March. The first maintenance crew began training at Chanute Field, Illinois, in March. The first Pursuit Squadron, the 99th, was activated that month; and President George W. Bush presented the airmen with the Congressional Gold Medal in March. A wreath-laying ceremony for deceased members of the Tuskegee Airmen, known as “Lonely Eagles,” is held on the commemoration day at the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

Text of the message can be found here and below.

March 28, 2024

I send my warmest greetings to all those celebrating National Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day-a time to honor the story, service, and sacrifice of the Black pilots, bombardiers, navigators, mechanics, instructors, and crewmembers who changed the course of history.

It's a story that continues to inspire us today. Daring and determined, the Tuskegee Airmen blazed a new path-becoming our Nation's first Black military pilots. They flew and supported over 15,000 sorties in battle and destroyed over 100 enemy aircraft. They defended the Allies and became one of the most decorated fighter groups during World War II. Time and again, they risked their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, stepping up to fly some of our country's most dangerous and critical missions.

But as these patriots fought the forces of fascism abroad, they continued to face enduring discrimination at home: signs on restaurants that read "whites only"; seats on buses that were off-limits; and schools, streets, shops, and military units divided by segregation. And even after the Tuskegee Airmen helped lay the groundwork for President Truman's Executive Order ending the unconscionable racial segregation of our Armed Forces, Black troops continued to confront intense inequality, racism, and oppression from those whose very freedom they defended.

Like the generations of brave Black Service members before them, the Tuskegee Airmen never stopped believing in the founding vision of our Nation: the vision for a more perfect Union, one where all women and men are created equal. We are the only Nation in the world built on this idea. We haven't always lived up to it, but we've never walked away from it either. And we've never ever walked away from our troops, who dare all and give all for our Nation.

As Commander in Chief, I am committed to keeping this sacred promise – including ensuring all Service members and veterans of color are treated with equal dignity and respect. We're working to address racial bias, strengthen equal opportunity, reform the military justice system, and ensure the full diversity of our Armed Forces is reflected at every level. And we will remain unwavering in our efforts to ensure that all women and men who wear the uniform can reach their full potential and have their contributions valued.

Today – as we honor the courageous "Red Tails" who defended our democracy against the forces of darkness-we remember their immense service and sacrifice. And together, we recommit to the future they fought for: one of greater security, equality, and opportunity for all.

President Joe Biden

WASHINGTON ̶ In a solemn tribute to honor its deceased “Lonely Eagles” members, the East Coast Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. (ECCTAI) will hold a wreath-laying ceremony from 10 a.m. to noon March 28 at the U.S. Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

The ceremony, part of Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day (TACD), is typically held on the fourth Thursday in March and recognizes the nearly 15,000 men and women from various military professions who comprised the “Tuskegee Airmen Experience.”

“Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day is more than just an annual event,” said Jerome Hodge, president of ECCTAI. “It’s an opportunity to honor the legacy of the courageous Tuskegee Airmen and to motivate, inspire and stimulate young people to seek and achieve successful careers in the fields of aviation and aerospace.”

Officials invited to the wreath-laying ceremony include retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert D. Bowie, former special assistant to the Director Air National Guard for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Energy, Installations, and Environment, Headquarters Air Force; retired Lt. Col. Shelton Ivan Ware, one of the last living original Tuskegee Airmen; distinguished senior military leaders; officials from key veteran service organizations; and aviation executives.

The ceremony comes on the eve of a presidential proclamation and congressional resolution to honor the famed airmen whose exploits are well documented and inspired the issuance of Presidential Executive Order 9981, which led to the desegregation of the U.S. military in July 1948. Members of the Tuskegee Airmen Experience included aircrew, ground crew and operations support team members who were part of the Tuskegee Airmen ̶ the segregated black Army Air Forces who trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Alabama, during World War II. For more information about ECCTAI, visit ECCTAI - Home.

Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen Honored for Lifetime Legacy of Valor

Indianapolis, Indiana - Tuskegee Airmen Inc. is set to host its 45th Annual Convention, July 12 - 17, 2016 at the Westin Indianapolis Hotel, Indianapolis, IN. An exciting treat is the continued year-long commemoration of the accomplishments of the Tuskegee Airmen; the long awaited Grand Celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the "Tuskegee Airmen Experience."

Pilots, nurses, mechanics, ground crew, air traffic controllers, meteorologists, stenographers, armorers and other support personnel saw the activation of the first black combat aviation unit at Tuskegee Army Air Field and other locations. March 22, 2016 marked the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the U.S. Army Air Corps 99th Pursuit Squadron on March 22, 1941. Distinguished Honorees - Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen will be in attendance.

This year's convention will proceed over several days and will feature a "Welcome Day", "Heritage Day", "Diversity/Military Day", and "Youth Day" intermingled throughout TAI organizational business meetings, training seminars, historical documentation, and more. Rounding out the convention and celebration will be the Tuskegee Airmen Grand Gala on Saturday, July 16, 2016 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m

About Tuskegee Airmen Inc.
Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. (TAI), headquartered in Tuskegee, Alabama with 56 chapters in major cities and military installations across the U.S., was established over 40 years ago to educate the public and keep alive the legacy of those who were part of the Tuskegee Experience during World War II. Membership in TAI is open civilians, veterans, active duty and retired military from all service branches. For more information on TAI and a brief history of the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II, download the TAI Media Kit.