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HONORABLE CHARLES B. RANGEL
OF NEW YORK
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007

AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY
TO AWARD THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR TO THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

Mr. RANGEL: Madam. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for use of the Capitol Rotunda for the Tuskegee Airmen Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony. The bill to award the Gold Medal passed unanimously on February 28, 2006 with bipartisan support. This was a long time coming. The Tuskegee Airmen, along with their families and friends are very happy that they will finally receive the highest honor this great body can award. The President will present the Gold Medal on March 29, 2007. Other dignitaries and leaders will also be present to witness this very historical event.

The Tuskegee Airmen are a distinguished group of World War II African American veterans who fought against segregation and discrimination at home and the enemy abroad. Their fight was with dignity, steadfastness, and pride. After completing training in Tuskegee, Alabama, they bravely headed to Europe to defend their country. They completed 15,500 missions, destroyed 260 enemy aircraft, sank 1 enemy destroyer, and demolished numerous enemy installations. During their service, the Airmen earned 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 744 Air Medals, 8 Purple Hearts, and 14 Bronze Stars. That is remarkable.

The Tuskegee Airmen were trailblazers and paved the way for other African Americans to serve and defend the U.S. Their exemplary work and commitment demonstrated once again that African Americans were not only highly capable, but willing to serve and die for freedom. As a Korean war veteran, I'm honored to have benefited from their courage and service to the military and the Nation.

As I express my support for using the Capitol Rotunda to honor great men who have served our country, I must pay honor to the men and women who are on the battlefield today. We must never forget their immeasurable sacrifices. I urge you to support this resolution and to keep our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers.