TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 Brigadier General Noel F. Parrish Chapter www.bgnfpchapter.weebly.com 1st Annual BGNFP Tuskegee Airmen Fundraiser Gala Flying Towards the Stars for Education Mission Location: Lexington KY; The Signature Club Mission Date: September 19, 2014 Mission Time: 1800 hours On September 19, 2014, 200 guests joined Brigadier General Noel F. Parrish chapter officers and members at the Signature Club of Lansdowne in Lexington Kentucky for an evening of Flying towards the Stars for Education fundraiser and celebration of the legacy and history of the Tuskegee Airmen. The purpose of BGNFP fundraiser event as a chapter was to set in motion an attempt to expand the Chapter s education assistance program for aspiring college bound seniors. Thanks to our individual and corporate donors, including Chrysler on Nicholasville, a primary corporate sponsor, the chapter had a successful fundraiser to help support their education mission. BGNFP Chapter Officers receive Commemorative Plaque from Lexington Kentucky Mayor s office. Guests were greeted with a warm reception, Posting of Colors ceremony by Bryan Station HS AFJROTC Color Guard, dinner prepared by Executive Chef Barry Braxton and an elegant evening of entertainment that included special performances by Jessie Laine Powell, Jeremiah Kisolo Muwanga and Jeana Sue Pillion. Rev. Larry Wilson was the Master of Ceremony for the evening; keeping the event on schedule and telling a few jokes along the way. DJ Reggie Snowden with S&S Productions entertained guest with jazz during the reception and dinner. In attendance was representation from the Lexington Mayor s office. In addition, Lexington KY Mayor; Jim Gray commemorated September 19 as Tuskegee Airmen Day in Lexington Kentucky. Steven L. Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, provided an event welcome letter that was printed in the gala program. Governor Beshear reinforced the obstacles and adverse conditions the Tuskegee Airmen overcame. Continued on Pg. 2 Lexington, KY December 2014 Articles written by: Ali Robinson; Public Relations Officer Special points of interest: 1st Annual BGNFP Tuskegee Airmen Gala Lexington Mayor Commemoration Roots & Heritage Festival Fourth of July Parade Gala Photos Veterans Day Story Upcoming Events Pleasant Green Event President s Column Inside this issue: Education Fundraiser Gala and Highlights 1-3 Fundraiser Gala Pictures 3-7 Veterans Day Story 7 Roots and Heritage Festival 8 Fourth of July Parade 8 President s Column 10 Chapter Announcements 10
Page 2 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Fundraising Gala Highlights President Obama also sent greetings to support the honoring of our Nation s Tuskegee Airmen and the promotion of education in our community. President Obama s letter recognized the history and sacrifices made by the Tuskegee Airmen. His letter was also printed in the event program. Ron Spriggs, BGNFP Chapter President spoke about the mission of the chapter and the purpose of the Gala. He recognized Mrs. Junyce Porter; Tuskegee History Spotlight: Willa Brown communications manager with UPS and several others for their corporate sponsorship support of the Tuskegee Airmen. He also thanked his chapter officers for planning and executing a successful event. In closing, the Bryan Station High School AFJROTC completed the Retrieval of Colors ceremony. The winners of all auctioned items claimed their win. Each guest was given a coffee mug upon leaving the event to show appreciation for their support. Tuskegee Airmen Day News Talk 590 WVLK Radio Interview Ron Spriggs; BGNFP Chapter President and Ali Robinson; BGNFP Public Relations Officer were invited to join radio show host Lee Cruse on.news Talk 590 WVLK in Lexington KY to speak about the BGNFP Tuskegee Airmen Gala. Ron spoke on the history of the Tuskegee Airmen during the interview and Ali provided details on the upcoming gala at the Signature Club in Lexington Kentucky on September 19, 2014. The interview was successful and served as a marketing tool to get the word about the event out to the community. Ali Robinson Lee C., Ali R. & Ron S.
Page 3 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Fundraising Gala Highlights Distinguished Guests of Honor Dr. Alexander Jefferson Lt.Col. USAFR, Ret DOTA Tuskegee History Spotlight: Willa Brown Dr. Alexander Jefferson; Lt. Col. USAFR, Ret and Mr. Frank Weaver; Corp. Hanger Chief, two Documented Original Tuskegee Airmen, were also in attendance and awarded the key to the city. Dr Jefferson is a native of Detroit Michigan and traveled to Kentucky to attend the gala. Mr. Frank Weaver resides in Louisville Kentucky and traveled to Lexington to be in attendance. Both honorees also received a framed letter from President Obama. Mr. Frank Weaver Corp Hangar Chief Gala Photos by Trinity Photography, Inc.
Page 4 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Fundraising Gala Highlights Cont. Gala Photos by Trinity Photography, Inc. Tuskegee History Spotlight: Willa Brown
Page 5 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Fundraising Gala Highlights Cont. Gala Photos by Trinity Photography, Inc. Tuskegee History Spotlight: Willa Brown
Page 6 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Fundraising Gala Highlights Gala Photos by Trinity Photography, Inc. Tuskegee History Spotlight: Willa Brown
Page 7 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Fundraising Gala Highlights Cont. Gala Photos by Trinity Photography, Inc. Veterans Day Story: BGNFP VP Honors Veterans of Richmond Kentucky On Veterans Day, 2014, Charles Walker, Vice President and Gary Noland, both with the BGNFP Tuskegee Airmen Chapter in Lexington KY, had the honor to stand with the Black Veterans of Madison County at the First Baptist Church Francis St. Richmond KY. We paid tribute to the Civil War Veterans that are buried in the cemetery on Four Mile Road in Richmond KY. There were Black Veterans on both sides of the war and Both Sides Offered Freedom at the end of the War. The Union paid its soldiers for their service and the confederates paid the slave masters for the service of their slaves. We had the MIA and POW ceremony, for the veterans of all wars. After the program, Col. Chris Wynder from Louisville, KY/ Ft. Knox, joined BGNFP, Col Wynder responded to an Email that I sent out on November 9 stating that we would come to the Veteran s Honors in Richmond Ky. BGNFP Chapter- President Ron Spriggs was in attendance to this second annual event. Story By: Charles Walker BGNFP VP Charles Walker
Page 8 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 Tuskegee Chapter Members Represent Chapter in Lexington KY 4th of July Parade. 4th of July Parade in Lexington Kentucky. July 4th, 2014, Several committee members, family and friends joined others in support of the Lexington KY 4th of July parade downtown Lexington. Ron Spriggs included the Mustang Horse in the parade. The committee plans to participate in the parade again next year. Tuskegee Chapter Members at the Roots & Heritage Festival Lexington KY. On September 16, 2014 the BGNFP Tuskegee Airmen Chapter members and officers setup an education and display tent in support of the Lexington Kentucky Roots and Heritage Festival 25th Anniversary of celebrating diversity in the Bluegrass. Officers spoke with many regarding the mission of the chapter. Members and Officers also used this opportunity to promote the chapter s upcoming exciting September 19, 2014 education fundraiser and membership drive. Though a very hot and humid day, everyone had a blast working together and celebrating the festival. Officers also took time to enjoy the entertainment and food at the festival. Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church 224th Anniversary On October 26, 2014, as part of the 224th celebration of the Church Anniversary for Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, members from the Kentucky Tuskegee Airmen group during World War II were inducted into the church s Hall of Fame as part of its celebration. Ron Spriggs, President and Ms. Patricia Hayden, BGNFP Treasurer, of the BGen. Noel Parrish Tuskegee Airmen, presented to the 18th Pastor of Historic Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, the Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Peoples, Jr., an 18 x 24 artistic rendering of the pilots and cadets from Kentucky. The framed print will be hung with other historical items on the church s wall of fame for all to read. Story By: Ron Spriggs
Page 9 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) OBAP was an ad sponsor for our gala and is a sister organization to the Tuskegee Airmen Organization. We are proud to recognize their efforts and equally proud to acknowledge Captain James Flash Gordan, a pilot with UPS, as its National President. Captain Gordan is based out of Louisville and has been a member of BGNFP for the past several years. The OBAP organization also supports education in the community through providing scholarship opportunities to college bound students.. For more information about the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals please visit: www.obap.org Tuskegee Airmen BGNFP Chapter Gala Expense and Revenue Breakdown
Page 10 TAI-BGNFP Chapter Newsletter-December 2014 BGNFP Tuskegee Airmen Chapter President s Note This has been a fantastic and very active year for our chapter. It all began around February of 2014 when we decided to venture out into new territory. After seven years as a chapter, we began plans for our first educational fundraising gala. This step of faith was taken so that we as a chapter could do more to provide seed money for some high school seniors heading off to college. I am extremely proud of the BGNFP Executive Board and other volunteers who poured tireless hours during the 7 months, before and after the event to make it a resounding. success. Our program book contained a gratulatory letter from President Barack Obama, Kentucky Governor, Steve Beshear and Lexington s BGNFP President Ron Spriggs Tuskegee Airmen BGNFP Chapter Announcements Mayor Jim Gray. Our chapter received a proclamation from the city designating September 19th as Tuskegee Airmen Day in Lexington. Our night s event honored two DOTA s Alexander Jefferson of Detroit, MI and Frank Weaver of Louisville KY. While the September fundraising Gala was our crowning event for the year, I am just as proud of these same individuals who participated in the Lexington Independence Day Parade and the Annual Roots and Heritage Festival. In each of these community appearances, it speaks volumes of the commitment we have as a chapter to keeping the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen alive. New Members Col. Chris Wynder, USA, Ft. Knox, KY Anthony Wright Valeria Cummings Bryan Station Color Guard Cadets Miscellaneous Membership Drive In-Progress Lonely Eagles Flt. Officer Alvin LaRue, died in February 2014 Upcoming Events 2015 Membership Drive Ends TAI Convention August-TBD 2015 Bi-Monthly Chapter Meetings on the 2nd Saturday of the month beginning with February and ending in December. Independence Day Parade July 4, 2015 Root and Heritage Festival September 12, 2015 2nd Annual Educational Fundraiser Gala, September 18, Wishing You and Your Family a Happy Holidays