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Pope members meet Tuskegee Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jon LaDue
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Five Airmen from Pope took a trip to Pennsylvania July 17 through 19 to attend the 37th Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convention. 

At the end of the three days, each Pope member said they had a greater appreciation for the Tuskegee Airmen and were thankful they were able to meet them. 

"It was awesome to meet people who actually made history. We were able to shake their hands and hear their stories," said Senior Airman Jason McEachern, 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. "I didn't realize how much adversity they had to go through in order to fight for our country." 

Another Airman who went described the experience as both educational and uplifting. 

"I didn't fully grasp how important the Tuskegee Airmen were to the Air Force," said Staff Sgt. Kenneth Key, 43rd Medical Support Squadron. "Reading their story is one thing, but talking to these men in person was a whole new uplifting experience." 

Although they were probably already aware, the Pope members began the trip learning just how important the Tuskegee Airmen were when they attended a street renaming at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. The street's new name is "Tuskegee Airmen Boulevard." 

From there it was on to the main event: meeting with some of the original Tuskegee Airmen. 

"I got an opportunity to hear history unfold from a personal perspective and from the personal experience of the original Tuskegee Airmen," said Lt. Col. Lionel Earl, 43rd Airlift Wing. 

"Although the overall information was the same as documented in history, hearing the words from those who lived it and from each individual's personal perspective was priceless." 

The convention also included leadership and mentorship
seminars, briefings from a panel of Air Force, Army and Navy senior leaders, seminars on diversity and women in the military and a gala awards dinner. 

Colonel Earl said the Tuskegee Airmen are an outstanding group of individuals who epitomize the Air Force's Core Values. 

He said he hopes to go back again so he can thank the men that helped pave the way for the "best air and space force in the world." 

"They forced the nation to take notice and make changes to policies that were in place for the wrong reason. These changes in our service are what make our military as strong as it is today," said Colonel Earl. 

Sergeant Key had this to say on whether or not he'd like to go again: "These gentleman are not getting any younger, so I feel extremely privileged to have met the original Tuskegee Airmen. I do hope to go back one day, but I would like to see different Airmen go each year so they can experience what these men and this Air Force is all about."