The Tuskegee Airmen fought for our nation in a time when many thought they were not capable simply because of the color of their skin. They endured many hardships - fighting on the field as did all soldiers of World War II, and off the field against racism and oppression.
My husband is in the U.S. Air Force so I get on-base commissary shopping privileges. When I am there, I occasionally come across these great Tuskegee Airmen. Knowing that I can only imagine the hardships these men endured, I consider it a great honor to be able to do something as simple as shop for groceries among them.
I was in Washington, D. C. yesterday, walking through town as the biker veterans toured around the mall. I saw two Tuskegee Airmen and had to speak to them. They were sitting at the curb, though, and I knew they would not be able to hear me over the roar of the hundreds of motorcycles passing in front of them. Although I wanted to tell them how honored I am to partake in the life of freedom and the privileges I receive as a military wife because of the sacrifices they were willing to make all those years ago, I opted to simply walk up to them and shake their hand and say, "Thank you."
I know that all our veterans from all the wars and all the eras of our nation are to be thanked and honored for their sacrifices. But, there is something special about the men who fought for a country that as a whole had no faith in them.
A final salute to all American veterans. Your fine work and willingness to lay down your life for me does not go unappreciated.
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