The immeasurable debt we owe to our veterans is remembered yearly on November 11. To mark the occasion, Vietnam War Veteran James R. Shaw will present the keynote remarks for the 58th Annual Veterans Day Commemoration. Mr. Shaw, Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force (Ret.) and the President of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., will speak about the role the Tuskegee Airmen played in American military aviation history and share insights from his 30-year military career, which included service in the Vietnam War.
Monday, November 12
Main Library Atrium
The program will also feature WCPO-TV Chief Meteorologist Steve Raleigh’s presentation of “The Star Spangled Banner as You’ve Never Heard It Before,” The Sheriff Leis' Bagpipe and Drum Corps, music performed by the Walnut Hills High School Senior Ensemble, a color guard, presentation of memorial wreaths by veterans groups, lighting the Flame of Remembrance, and Taps.
The Tuskegee Airmen
When James R. Shaw enlisted in the U.S. Air Force at the age of 21 in 1955, he followed a path blazed by the famed aviation pioneers—the Tuskegee Airmen—who were the first African American pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force. They overcame segregation and prejudice to become one of the most highly respected fighter groups of World War II, proving conclusively that African Americans could fly and maintain sophisticated combat aircraft. The Tuskegee Airmen’s achievements, together with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for full integration of the U.S. military in 1948.
Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project is an outgrowth of a partnership the Library established with the Library of Congress to collect and archive oral histories from military veterans. On our Veterans History website you’ll find video interviews with local veterans, documents, and photographs. These accounts and documents offer a fascinating chronicle of military life and record the sacrifice and valor of the men and women who served our country. The Library is proud to be a part of this important national endeavor and to serve as an archive for the stories and memorabilia of local veterans.
Honor our veterans and active military personnel with one of these patriotic staff picks from our collection!