Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, on Wednesday introduced the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Act, a bill to create a memorial in Washington, D.C., commemorating the service, sacrifice and enduring legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.
“The Tuskegee Airmen are among the most heroic and consequential soldiers our nation has ever had,” Figures said. “While facing horrific discrimination at home, these men risked their lives to defend rights and freedoms abroad. Their courage, skill and unwavering dedication not only contributed to the Allied victory but also helped pave the way for the desegregation of the U.S. military. Their contributions to our country deserve to be memorialized in our nation’s capital, and I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan bill to make that a reality.”
“The introduction of this authorizing legislation in Congress is a vital milestone in our ongoing mission to preserve and honor the legacy of our nation’s pioneering heroes,” said Angela Holmes, first vice president of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. “We extend our deepest gratitude to Representative Shomari Figures and our congressional partners for championing this effort. As we see the final generation of our original members passing, establishing a permanent landmark in Washington, D.C., ensures their monumental contributions to military integration, excellence and civil rights will never be forgotten by future generations.”
The bill would authorize Tuskegee Airmen Inc. to establish a memorial on federal land in the District of Columbia. Figures’ press release said the legislation is “a key, necessary first step toward making this well-deserved memorial a reality.”
Tuskegee Airmen Inc. is a national nonprofit founded to preserve the history and achievements of the original Tuskegee Airmen and engage youth to inspire future careers in aviation, aerospace and STEM.
“The memorial will serve as an educational resource, designed to teach future generations about one of the greatest, most well-decorated fighting forces in our nation’s history, and to highlight the important roles that Black military pilots and support personnel played in World War II,” Figures’ press release said.
The bill is cosponsored by Alabama’s congressional delegation, Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., Representative Yvette Clarke, D-New York, Representative Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, and Representative Emilia Sykes, D-Ohio.
