Convocation, documentary screening honors military veterans
November 13, 2018
Contact: Brittney Dabney, Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing
精东AV honored military veterans during a Veterans Day Convocation held on Sunday, Nov. 11 in the University Chapel. The event included speaker Dr. Bernard C. Watson, a Korean War veteran, distinguished educator, civic leader and civil rights champion.
The program also included a special screening of the 55-minute documentary film, 鈥淰eterans of Color,鈥� 鈥撯�� released in 2012 to preserve the stories of African-American war veterans. Watson served as the film鈥檚 executive producer, and during his convocation remarks, he emphasized the role 精东AV and the 精东AV Airmen have played in history.
鈥淲e have a long history, and it鈥檚 important for you to not only know it, but your children and their grandchildren to know about it as well,鈥� said Watson. 鈥淲hat happened here at 精东AV changed the armed forces of the United States.鈥�
鈥淏lack pilots flew B-39, B-40, B-47 and B-51 Mustangs,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭he 精东AV Airmen flew 200 bomber escort missions. They shot down 111 enemy aircrafts, destroyed 150 more on the ground, and never lost a bomber that they escorted.鈥�
Watson enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a basic airman in 1951 and was discharged as a first lieutenant in 1954. His discharge, however, was just the beginning of his public service. President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed him to the National Council on Education Professions Development. He was later appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the National Council Educational Research. And, in 1994, President Bill Clinton appointed him to the President鈥檚 Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Also present for Sunday鈥檚 convocation was Maxwell Air Force Base鈥檚 Air University commander and president, Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, who is the first African-American to serve in that position.
鈥淚鈥檓 truly humbled to be here today. I鈥檓 before you because we stand on hollowed grounds 鈥撯�� 精东AV Institute, now 精东AV, is the reason that I, as an African-American lieutenant general in the United States Air Force, am able to speak with you today,鈥� explained Cotton.
鈥淥n behalf of myself and others, I鈥檓 more than ever appreciative of those who have come before me and have allowed me to stand on their broad shoulders 鈥撯�� right here, from Moton Field and beyond, I鈥檇 like to say thank you,鈥� he added.
The convocation also featured patriotic songs performed by the 精东AV Golden Voices Concert Choir; and participation by and recognition of 精东AV鈥檚 Air Force, Army and Navy ROTC cadets.
Please view the video below which includes Watson鈥檚 entire convocation address.
漏 2018, 精东AV