Inspired Kids Learn About Tuskegee Airmen

History was made in Moreno Valley last Sunday as the Tuskegee Airmen Traveling Exhibit, Triumph Over Adversity: Rise Above, was brought for the first time to Southern California. The exhibit, which will be open until Friday March 7th for students at the local elementary schools, and to the public from 4 - 6 p.m., is a multimedia documentary that tells the story of the Red Tail Squadron. The event was made possible by the Moreno Valley Unified School District (MVUSD) and the host school Armada Elementary. President of the Buford A. Johnson Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Buford A. Johnson Chapter, Dr. Alan E. Cummings, along with the organization's Vice President, Amanda Weeks, past president Robert L. Porter and Public Affairs officer Joseph A. Olano were present at the event to speak, and to answer any questions about the Airmen that the children and public had. The Buford A. Johnson Chapter recently worked with the MVUSD to fly 10 kids from the district in an airplane for their first time, for free. The Red Tail Squadron, also known as the Tuskegee Airmen are celebrated members of the 332nd Fighter Group and the 447th Bombardment Group of the Army Air Corps, who made history by being the first African Americans to become pilots in the US military during World War II. They overcame obstacles that the world placed before them to prove to themselves and others that they could succeed. Dr. Cummings says that 277 of these brave airmen, including 23 pilots are alive today. Dr. Cummings said that it is important to remember not only the airmen who were pilots, but the men and women who supported the pilots as nurses, cooks, mechanics and in other ways. "How did the Tuskegee Airmen help fuel the civil war?" asked 10-year-old Skyy Blue. "They said yes we can, 20 years before Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King," answered Cummings. "Moreno Valley is the first to bring the Rise Above Program all the way from Mississippi, to Southern California," shared Cummings. Kim Hendrix, the MVUSD's Director of Accountability and Assessment said that it's important for children to know they can also be a part of history, "A huge part is being aware of the history, to form a relationship with the history, so that they can shape it too." Vice President Weeks of the Buford A. Johnson Chapter agreed, reminding kids how this is possible, "Always be involved in the community and know where progress needs to be made, find the motivation to challenge the things you know aren't right. This event provides kids with some great role models who have done that in history," said Weeks. Children from MVUSD also took part in the event. Amiya Parran and Kimiya Young from Armada Elementary opened the event with the Pledge of Allegiance. Yesid Arellano, a Landmark Middle School student performed a captivating Star Spangled Banner, and Taylor Jennings, a former Landmark Middle School student wowed guests with her performance of R. Kelly's I Believe I Can Fly. Dr. Judy D. White, the Superintendent of the MVUSD welcomed the guests, and Principal of Armada Elementary, Jeff Jones said a few words. "I am very excited to have this event. The focus of the exhibit is aiming high, and not giving up," Jones said. He thanked Marie White, teacher at Armada Elementary School for her huge part in making the event possible. "It's captivating, unique, and its a career appetizer," said Joseph Olano of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. Past president of the local chapter Robert L. Porter, who currently gives lectures all over the nation and is set to go to Europe to talk to kids on US military bases also gave his piece of advice. "Graduate from High school. Try to get a 4.0 GPA. Don't sit in the sidelines, change the game!" said Porter. Skyy Blue's mother, Cheryll Blue who was inspired by the event said that it's important to know "We usually only hear and learn about Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, but there were thousands more who shaped history. I have been thinking for a long time to go back to school myself and pursue an African American Studies Major."