Tuskegee Airmen Visit Flint Hill School

On February 10, 2014, Flint Hill welcomed four of the original Tuskegee Airmen. Organized by the Flint Hill’s Black Student Union, the event featured a collective address to the entire student body. The Tuskegee Airmen representatives, the oldest being 91, told stories of their experiences growing up, what it meant to serve their country, and gave a charge to students to be involved in their community.

After the large assembly, members of the Black Student Union and other students gathered with the Airmen for a time of Q&A. Advice to work hard, to help others, and to lead in civic responsibility were presented to students who soaked up this opportunity to meet and talk with true heroes.

“We were blessed to be in the presence of greatness,” said Headmaster John Thomas. “Clearly to have the Tuskegee Airmen to address our students in such a personal and intimate way was an honor. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Junior Caira Blackwell and the Black Student Union in bringing them to Flint Hill.”

The Tuskegee Airmen were a group of African-Americans trained for combat in World War II. Though all were not airmen, the title represents the aviators, since they were the first African-American pilots trained in the US, at the Tuskegee Army Field.