Apr 12, 2006 9:06 pm US/Mountain
Part Of I-70 Named In Honor Of Tuskegee Airmen
by Terry Jessup
DENVER (CBS4) ―
The famed Tuskegee airmen of World War II, who overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups, will have a section of Interstate 70 named in their honor.
The group of men had to prove conclusively that African-Americans could fly and maintain sophisticated combat aircraft during the war. They take pride in the fact they never lost a plane to enemy aircraft.
"I was good to the military, they weren't good to me, I was good to them," said Loran Smith who served 29 years as an airman.
The legendary group was honored in the House chamber on Wednesday.
"It is history," Smith said. "It's American history and to have the state do this for us, to say, 'hey we appreciate what you've done,' that's an honor."
The state is naming a section of I-70 from Tower Road to Brighton Blvd., the Tuskegee Airmen Highway.
The war veterans, several of whom now live in Denver, were moved as lawmakers were lining up to show their appreciation.
"To think that you all went through such ungodly prejudice and that you still stepped up to the plate to serve in World War II, I have always thought of you as the most patriotic of our citizens," said Rep. Gwyn Green, D-Denver.
"While you were suffering the bigotry that was going on at that time, you were one hell of a good Air Force," said Rep. Mark Larson, R- Cortez. "You were the wingmen that everybody wanted."
The airmen's loyalty and their accomplishments are well-known to those who served. They hope the highway signs will be noticed for generations to come.
"When people go up and down that highway, they're going to see Tuskegee airmen," Smith said. "They might want to ask, 'well who were the Tuskegee airmen'. They might want to get in the history books to find out what we did for the country and that's an honor."
The story of the Tuskegee airmen is told in detail at the Aurora History Museum and are already immortalized in a statue in front of the Air Force Academy.
(© MMVI CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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