>>Valley Patriot>>
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(04/04/07)
Tuskegee Airman Luther McIlwain, Glendora
McIlwain Putnam,
Brad MacDougall-Congressional Aide to Rep. Marty
Meehan and Kathleen Corey Rahme
Tuskegee Airman Luther McIlwain
Honored in Washington D.C.
Ted Tripp
WASHINGTON - On March 29, 2007 a grateful nation honored
its black airmen of World War II with the presentation of
the Congressional Gold Medal. The medal is the highest
civilian award presented by Congress and was first given
to George Washington in 1776. The presentation ceremony
was held in front of approximately 130 remaining Tuskegee
Airmen who came from all parts of the country. Many of
the aged veterans walked with canes or were in
wheelchairs, but they made the effort to attend on behalf
of their fellow airmen who are no longer alive.
Methuen’s Luther McIlwain (Valley Patriot of the
Month in the April and May issues of 2006) attended the
presentation with his sister Glendora McIlwain Putnam of
Boston. Kathleen Corey Rahme, city councilor in Methuen,
also flew down to Washington to attend the reception
following the ceremony.
Congressman Marty Meehan’s office took care of all
the travel and hotel arrangements for Luther and his
sister. Brad MacDougal, an aide to the congressman, also
went along to make sure that everything went smoothly
without a problem.
The day started with a breakfast for the Airmen and their
guests at the Renaissance Hotel and then they boarded a
bus to the Capitol to prepare for the 1:00 p.m.
presentation. The Airmen were first placed in a holding
room where several congressmen came through to visit.
Luther got a chance to speak with Congressman James
Clyburn (D-S.C.), the majority whip and the
highest-ranking African-American in Congress.
After the Airmen and their guests were seated in the
Rotunda, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi called the
gathering to order. This was followed by a presentation
of the colors, singing of the national anthem and an
invocation by the House chaplain. Senator Carl Levin and
Representative Charles Rangel, sponsors of the original
bill authorizing the award, then spoke on the merits of
the medal and the exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen.
Former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell also spoke to the group.
Luther McIlwain remembers one memorable moment of his
speech. Powell looked directly at the Tuskegee Airmen and
then expressed something along the lines of … I
never would have become what I did if you had failed.
There were other speakers and then President George Bush
went to the podium. He thanked the Airmen for their
service and at the end he raised his hand and offered a
military salute as Commander in Chief to all the Tuskegee
Airmen who had passed on as well as those still alive
today. He said, “For all the unreturned salutes, and
unforgivable indignities … on behalf of the office I
hold and a country that honors you, I salute you for your
service to the United States of America.” Almost
immediately you could see the old veterans rise from
their seats to return the salute. Even many of those in
the wheelchairs struggled to stand, if even for a brief
moment, to salute the president. Luther McIlwain was
proud to return the salute. It was the emotional
highlight of the ceremony.
Each Tuskegee Airman was given a bronze replica of the
Congressional Gold Medal. On the front it says “Tuskegee
Airmen 1941-1949” with a relief showing three
Tuskegee Airmen and an eagle. On the back is inscribed
“Act of Congress 2006 / Outstanding Combat Record /
Inspired Revolutionary Reform in the Armed Forces.”
Luther McIlwain was a second lieutenant in the all-black
477th B-25 Bomber Group and earned his wings as a
bombardier and navigator. He was also a rated weather
observer.
*Send your questions comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com
The March 2007 Edition
of the Valley Patriot
The Valley Patriot is a Monthly
Publication.
All Contents (C) 2007, Valley Patriot, Inc.
We publish 12,000 newspapers and distribute in Andover,
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Salisbury Beach, and Lowell.
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