Little Rock Nine, Tuskegee Airmen Receive Inaugural Invitations to Witness Fruits of Their Struggle

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: 'We've Completed Our Mission'
Little Rock Nine, Tuskegee Airmen Receive Invitations to Witness the Fruits of Their Struggle
By Avis Thomas-Lester and Michael E. Ruane
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, December 13, 2008; Page B01


In September 1957, hecklers followed Elizabeth Eckford, one of the Little Rock Nine turned away from the high school building. Arkansas National Guardsmen were told not to let the nine black students inside. (Will Counts/AP)

In their youth, they helped build the road to freedom, through white mobs at a segregated high school in Little Rock and across the deadly skies above war-torn Europe. Next month, the now-aging civil-rights pioneers of the Little Rock Nine and the Tuskegee Airmen will have the opportunity to stand at a high place on that road: the swearing-in of Barack Obama, the first black president of the United States and the country's first black commander in chief.

Officials said yesterday that invitations were being extended to the nine people who as teenagers desegregated Little Rock's Central High School in 1957. Invitations to the Tuskegee Airmen, the famed African American pilots and crews who fought during World War II, were announced earlier in the week.

"That we would be invited is only natural because of the pivotal role we played in starting the integration movement," retired Lt. William Broadwater, 82, of Upper Marlboro said of his fellow black pilots and support personnel, who pushed for military integration a decade before public schools and transportation were desegregated. "The culmination of our efforts and others' was this great prize we were given on Nov. 4," he said. "Now we feel like we've completed our mission. This inauguration will be the ultimate result."

The invitations were offered by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which is coordinating the swearing-in at the west front of the Capitol. U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), who suggested the Little Rock invitation, said: "The Little Rock Nine changed the course of American history. . . . They should be here, front and center."

But not all the invitees will be able to attend. Little Rock Nine member Elizabeth Eckford, 67, who still lives in the house where she grew up, said she can't afford the trip....Many of the airmen are infirm. Lt. Col. Hiram Mann, 87, of Titusville, Fla., who uses a wheelchair, said he won't be able to come to the inauguration but will be rooted in front of his television....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/12/AR2008121204106.html?hpid=topnews

[babylonsister]

1. I think this is awesome. Has anyone heard 'one word' about this on the

m$m?

[DeepModem Mom]

3. I'm wondering if some generous citizens of Little Rock might see this...

and pitch in to make it possible for Elizabeth Eckford to attend the festivities.

[babylonsister]

4. Yes, so it'd be really nice if this story got some legs. nt

[sandnsea]

8. I wrote a couple of emails

My sister lives there, we'll see what we can come up with.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. That's great, sandnsea -- thanks!!! nt

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. Second front of the Washington Post

ain't M$M enough for you?

[babylonsister]

6. Nope, considering a whole lot of people don't read the WaPo.

A nice little news story on the tee vee would be great.

[Beaverhausen]

10. I think/hope when the inaguaration happens, this will get publicity.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. k/r

EOM

[jeff30997]

7. K&R

[pinto]

9. What a great statement for the inaugural.

:kick: