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Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. and Southwest Airlines have something in common—they LUV to celebrate!

KarenPriceWard
Employee
Employee

More than 60 years have passed since World War II ended.  A war where great men and women sacrificed their lives, their spirits to provide us the freedom we enjoy today.  A special group of men stood out from the crowd during this time; the Tuskegee Airmen.  The Tuskegee Airmen are known as a group of young men who enlisted in World War II to become America's first African-American military airmen.

Today, Southwest Airlines celebrates the Tuskegee Airmen legacy by sponsoring their 40th Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.  To further the celebration, four decorated WWII Heroes:  Calvin Spann, Claude Platte, Robert McDaniel, and Homer Hogues will serve as “Honorary Pilots” with reserved seating in the first two rows on Southwest Airlines’ Dallas Flight #897 bound for Baltimore/Washington International (BWI.)  

Also, John Minor from our BWI Ground Operations and Hope Stevens from our Dallas Headquarters alongside a military and honor guard will welcome the Honorary Pilots as well as hundreds of Tuskegee Airmen and their spouses with refreshments at the BWI baggage claim area.

The annual Tuskegee Airmen convention will take place during this week at the Gaylord National Harbor and  Southwest Employees, including Pilots John Addison, Larry Jackson with Gordon Guillory, Curtis Atkins from the Maintenance Department, and Adriene Jones from BWI Ground Operations are volunteering their time to speak to 400 youth about their career path and answer questions.  

Student pilot with Cerebral Palsy, Tyrell Rhodes, will serve as Southwest Airlines’ guest speaker at the Youth Day and Gala.  Additionally, Tyrell will share his past experience and officially kick off the Southwest Airlines’ Continuing the Legacy in Aviation to be held in Dallas, TX, November 2011.

Southwest Airlines and many other supporters are pleased to celebrate with the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. at the 40th Annual Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. Convention and honor them for their courage and sacrifices to make this Country, the land of the free.

1 Comment
Ardena_Lee-Flem
Explorer C
Hi Karen, Long time, I hope you remember me..We met quite a few years ago when I working for the RI Convention Center. I'd like to re-connect with you on Linked In. BTW, great article on the airmen Best, Ardena Lee-Fleming (Providence, RI)