Stretch of I-57 roadway dedicated to Tuskegee Airmen
Bev L. Dunjill got choked up Monday as he talked about how times have changed since his days in the U.S. military. One of the original Tuskegee Airmen, Dunjill was one of several people, including elected officials and state department heads, who addressed the overflow crowd that gathered in the south suburban Markham City Hall to pay tribute to the celebrated, historic Army pilots.
State Rep. Marlow Colvin and state Sen. Kwame Raoul, along with Gov. Pat Quinn and Ill. Department of Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider, announced Monday that a stretch of Interstate 57 from Saulk Trail to Wentworth Avenue is now the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Trail. The corridor pays homage to men that many attending the dedication ceremony called heroes.
Colvin and Raoul were sponsors, with other legislators, of House Joint Resolution 28 which established the trail. Placards will be placed along the trail marking the honor to servicemen.
The highway signs will be an everyday reminder of the sacrifices these men gave on behalf of our country. To show how grateful we are, this was an appropriate way for the Legislature to honor them, Colvin told the Chicago Citizen. He explained that the roadway dedication in Illinois is the 13th in the country and part of a nationwide effort to have a stretch of federal highway in each state named for the Airmen.
In his remarks to the crowd that included community organizations, police and fire personnel, students and community residents, Raoul talked about the importance of preserving the history of the Airmen and making their valor known.
Unless we preserve our history, unless we tell our history, unless we honor the contributions that men like these made so that we live the lives that we live today, somebody else is going to tell a different story. Unless somebody tells the story about how Black men stood up and made their contributions to protect this country, somebody is going to tell another story, he said. So what we do today is put something in permanency such that no one will tell another story and these men will be honored.
Many eyes welled with tears as eight of the original Tuskegee Airmen were called by name and rose to their feet most of them frail and aided by someone for the official dedication. The men were members of the Chicago Dodo Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen Inc. and Dunjill serves as president emeritus.
Segregation in the military during WWII kept Black pilots grounded or on non-combat missions. Before 1940, they werent allowed to fly for the U.S. military. But with pressure from such organizations as the NAACP and the National Urban League, among others, a pursuit squadron was created that was based in Tuskegee, Alabama. The men became the first Black pilots of the U.S. military and were known affectionately as Tuskegee Airmen formally as the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps. They are credited with completing over 1500 missions over the course of the war, garnering 900-plus citations.
Because this country was turned 180-degrees, were able to do the things that we do today. Thank God, Dunjill said, his remarks cut off by rousing applause and his own tearful emotions.
Milton Williams compared the esteem of the roadway dedication to his reverence of being inducted into the Illinois Hall of Fame. Williams is an original Tuskegee Airmen who served in Italy.
This is just so remarkable and were so honored, said Williams, admitting that he struggled for words to describe how proud he felt Monday. I cant really express my feelings.
Joan Taylors husband George died in 2008. The widow was at the dedication ceremony and was a bit sentimental that he didnt live to personally receive the honor.
I think it is a wonderful, wonderful tribute to the men, she said. Im just sorry (George) is not here.
Getting the trail dedication was the second of three goals for the airmen, nationwide. Colvin and other officials in the fraternity said the first goal of being inducted into the aviation hall of fame had been completed last May. Now the celebrated retired servicemen are working to get placed on a U.S. postage stamp.
Quinn called them the best of the best.
You are the pride of our nation, Quinn said. We dont want the Tuskegee Airmen ever to be forgotten. It is very important to understand that their mission is our mission. Each of us has been held in the arms of the Tuskegee Airmen. Its very important that we honor their service.
By Rhonda Gillespie
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