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Contact: Catherine Light, 334-727-6390 Contact: Linda Friar, 786-385-0067
Tuskegee, Alabama, will take a place in the spotlight at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2008, when the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site hosts its Grand Opening Ceremony. Federal and state officials and other dignitaries will honor the historic achievements and the valor of the Tuskegee Airmen at the Grand Opening Ceremony. The National Park Service and its partners are proud to open this Historic Site commemorating the Tuskegee Airmen. The special ceremony at the Site’s famed Moton Field will kick off three days of special exhibitions and interpretive programs at the Site and other special events honoring the Tuskegee Airmen throughout the Alabama River Region. Many of the original Tuskegee Airmen are expected to attend. Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Lt. General (Ret.) Russell C. Davis, President of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., City of Tuskegee Mayor Johnny Ford, and Tuskegee University President Dr. Benjamin F. Payton are scheduled to attend. Music at the 1:30 p.m. ceremony will be provided by Golden Voices Choir from Tuskegee University. The ceremony at the Tuskegee Airmen site is free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be limited seating and standing room for the general public. Because of anticipated broad interest in this event, visitors are encouraged to arrive early and bring rain gear in case of inclement weather. The program is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., with parking available in and adjacent to the site open at 10:30 a.m. Free educational programs telling the story of Moton Field and the Tuskegee Airmen will be available to the public after the ceremony and throughout the weekend. Park memorabilia, novelty items, and food and beverage vending will be available at the Historic Site and at the adjacent Tuskegee Municipal Airport, Moton Field. More information on Tuskegee Airmen commemorative events in Alabama is available through the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Park Headquarters at 334-727-6390. Additional information is available from:
Media badges are being issued for the Grand Opening Celebration and can be picked up at the Media Center on site beginning October 9. Formal credentialing is not being implemented at this time. This may change should there be an Executive Branch participant in the program. There will be a media preview day on October 9th from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This will offer the media an opportunity to tour the site and interview subject matter experts and representatives from the partner organizations. There will also be opportunities to visit the partner organizations in the community. Additional information on subject matter experts who will be available for interview will be provided in subsequent news releases. Please contact Shirley Baxter at 334-727-3200 to register for the media preview day. -TUAI- |
Last updated: April 14, 2015