Tuskegee Airmen Invited To Attend Inauguration

The first black fighter pilots, who trained in Tuskegee, Alabama, have the chance to see Barack Obama take the oath and become the nation's first black president.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: December 10, 2008

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of black pilots
who fought in World War II, have been invited to attend
President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration.
Carole Florman, a spokeswoman for the Joint Congressional
Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, says Sen. Diane Feinstein,
D-Calif., sent a letter Tuesday to Tuskegee Airmen Inc. asking them
to attend. The Arlington, Va.-based organization represents 330 of
the original pilots.
Each member will receive two nontransferable tickets. They have
10 days to decide if they will attend.
Feinstein, who chairs the joint committee, said in a statement
the airmen helped remove race as an obstacle to public service.
Robert Rose, vice president of the organization, says members
are "elated and honored" by the invitation.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)