SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
CARSON CITY – In conjunction with the release of the “Red Tails” movie tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, three men from the famed unit are set to participate in a meet and greet with the public on Jan. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at the Nevada Air National Guard base in Reno, 1776 National Guard Way. There is no cost to meet with the Tuskegee Airmen and the event is open to the public.
Tuskegee Airmen are renown as the first African-American military aviators in the U.S. armed forces and are regarded as pioneers in the aviation field.
The three retired Tuskegee Airmen who are scheduled to appear are Senior Master Sgt. George Porter, Tech. Sgt. Boyd Taylor and Command Sgt. Maj. Labaron Yates. All three were among the group of Tuskegee Airmen who received the Congressional Gold Medal on March 29, 2007 and Our Story, Inc. has generously made the gentlemen available for this event.
The Tuskegee Airmen gained their collective name during World War II-era training at the U.S. Army airfield near Tuskegee, Ala., and at the Tuskegee Institute. During the era, the American military was racially segregated. Tuskegee Airmen were often subject to racial discrimination, both within and outside the Army. Despite these adversities, the aviators trained and flew with distinction.
On escort missions, the Tuskegee Airmen are said to have never lost a U.S. bomber. The aviators downed 111 enemy planes and destroyed 273 planes on the ground.
George Lucas’s film salute to the Tuskegee Airmen, “Red Tails,” is set for release in theaters nationwide on Jan. 20, the same day as the meet and greet. The movie features Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard.
Those attending the event should bring government-issued identification, i.e. driver’s license, to access the air base.
Questions may be directed to Shayne Del Cohen at (775) 827.9228 or to April Conway at (775) 887-7252.
