(Arlington, VA) - An evening filled with sophisticated jazz, toasts, and notable guests launched The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s first ever Black History month celebration at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. The February 26th event carried the theme Framing the Past – Forging the Future, honoring living legend Tuskegee Airman, Lt. Colonel (Ret.) Howard L. Baugh and top-ranking active female marine, Colonel Gail E. Jennings. The two awardees served as symbols of the great strides made by African Americans over the history of the military.

Howard University’s Color Guard set a patriotic tone for the military tribute that included stirring words from Congressman Sanford D. Bishop followed by a heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem sung by a veteran of the Air Force. Event host and CBCF President, Weldon J. Rougeau, marked the occasion saying, “With this inaugural event we are signaling to our friends and constituents that we are committed to recognizing and uplifting those whose words and deeds brought us this far. With this celebration we honor not only the living heroes, but the many unnamed heroes who never got their due.”

Upon receiving the Distinguished Service Award from CBCF Chair, Congressman William J. Jefferson, Howard Baugh a native of Richmond, Virginia, enthusiastically accepted. In accepting the award he described in vivid terms his journey to becoming a pilot. Baugh told a story of racial discrimination similar to the one vividly depicted in the 1995 movie, “Tuskegee Airmen” starring actor Lawrence Fishburne. “In the early 1900’s, it was the policy of the U.S. military not to accept blacks for many jobs,” Baugh explained. “It was said that we lacked the intelligence and dexterity necessary to operate aircraft.” The skeptics were proved wrong after the establishment of the Army Air Corp Program under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

In 1942 Baugh entered the Army Air Corp. He was one of only five cadets to complete pilot training at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama. Decorated for his acts of bravery several times over, Lt. Colonel Baugh flew 135 combat missions in P-40s and P-51s during World War II, escorting B-17 and B-24 formations. The crowning achievement for the underdog Tuskegee Airmen, said Baugh, was that they “never lost a single plane.”

CBCF also honored Colonel Gail E. Jennings. Called a “renaissance woman who gives us all hope for the future,” by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, Colonel Jennings is a native of Dayton, Ohio and began her career in 1977. Colonel Jennings spoke about her experiences in the male-dominated Marine Corps. In her acceptance speech she conveyed her commitment to being a role model for youth and expressed the importance of giving back to the African American community.

At the close of the ceremony CBC Chair, Representative Congressman Elijah E. Cummings lauded the achievements of both Baugh and Jennings, reminding the crowd that “today we stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us.”

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The CBCF serves as a nonpartisan, policy-oriented catalyst to educate future leaders and promote collaboration among community and business leaders, minority-focused organizational leaders, and organized labor to effect positive and substantive change in the African American community.