A bronze statue in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen is on display outside Harmon Hall on the Academy’s Honor Court. The plaque affixed to the statue’s base reads: Quote: “They rose from adversity through competence, courage, commitment and capacity to serve America on silver wings and to set a standard few will transcend.” Unquote. The statue, completed by Tuskegee Airman and artist Clarence Shivers, was unveiled and donated to the Academy in 1988 by the Hook-Jones Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. A wreath-laying...
A bronze statue in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen is on display outside Harmon Hall on the Academy’s Honor Court. The plaque affixed to the statue’s base reads: Quote: “They rose from adversity through competence, courage, commitment and capacity to serve America on silver wings and to set a standard few will transcend.” Unquote. The statue, completed by Tuskegee Airman and artist Clarence Shivers, was unveiled and donated to the Academy in 1988 by the Hook-Jones Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. A wreath-laying ceremony is conducted at the site each year.
The term “Tuskegee Airmen” refers to all who were involved in the Army Air Corps program to train African-Americans to fly and maintain combat aircraft during World War II. At a time of racial segregation in the military, the Tuskegee Airmen answered the call to arms and flew a total of 1,578 combat missions during the war. They flew fighters on ground attack and bomber escort missions over Europe and North Africa. Approximately 150 Tuskegee Airmen lost their lives while in training or on combat flights. On March 29, 2007, the Tuskegee Airmen received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award that may be bestowed by the United States Congress.
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