Bill Lee: “Every year when we celebrate and reflect on Black History Month, we learn the stories of some of America's greatest…”

“Every year when we celebrate and reflect on Black History Month, we learn the stories of some of America's greatest scientists, actors, writers, entertainers, scholars, workers, and ordinary people who made major contributions to this great country. As a member of the Military Construction, Veteran Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, I want to share the unsung stories of the valiant Black men and women who served their country dutifully during World War II even in the face of adversity. We know about the brave Tuskegee Airmen--Red Tails--who flew fighter and bomber planes during World War II, but many do not know that the Red Tails were only a few of the nearly 1 million African Americans who served during the war. These courageous men and women fought bravely to protect the democratic ideals of freedom and equality. Sadly, the country they served did not live up to those ideals. When they returned from victory in Europe and the Pacific, many did not receive a hero's welcome because of the color of their skin. My dad, the late Lieutenant Colonel Garvin Tutt, was one of those heroes. He served in the 92nd Battalion in Italy supporting the Normandy invasion, was in World War II, the Korean war, and served in the Army for 25 years. Only recently have the contributions of African-American men and women during World War II been recognized as our country has attempted to acknowledge its sad and dark past.…”