Dear Veteran,
As Chairwoman of the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), I am honored to ensure our Veterans, Military Members, and their families receive the support they deserve and the benefits they’ve earned. While the VLB primarily focuses on providing the best benefits in the nation to Veterans, we are also deeply committed to preserving our nation’s military history and celebrating the achievements of the men and women who have stepped forward to serve.
On March 26, 2026, I had the privilege of hosting the inaugural Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day at the Tuskegee Airmen Texas State Veterans Home (TSVH) in Fort Worth. Starting this year, Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day will be observed on the fourth Thursday of March. This act was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on May 5, 2025, during the 89th Legislative Session, to honor this group of over 900 airmen, the first African Americans to fly for the United States military. The Tuskegee Airmen received their name from their main training facility at Morton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama. They served during World War II and consisted of three groups: the 99th Fighter Squadron, the 332nd Fighter Group, and the 477th Bombardment Group. The 99th was credited with shooting down 30 enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat in Italy during WWII. The 332nd was recognized for escorting American strategic bombers on dangerous missions across Europe, flying the legendary P-51 Mustangs with distinctive red tail markings that earned them the nickname the “Red Tails.” The 477th never saw combat but played a key role in challenging ongoing segregation at Freeman Field in Seymour, Indiana. In 1944, the 99th joined the 332nd Fighter Group, and together they flew combat missions in the Mediterranean.
The Tuskegee Airmen were not only exceptional pilots but also unwavering patriots. Despite facing racism and segregation, they overcame prejudice and excelled in serving their country. They flew over 1,500 missions across North Africa and Europe during WWII and earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 60 Purple Hearts, and the Congressional Gold Medal. Their resilience and extraordinary accomplishments inspired future generations of pilots, such as Jesse Leroy Brown, the first African American Naval Aviator, and Frank E. Peterson Jr., the first African American Marine Aviator.
On the first annual Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, I was joined by state and local officials in Fort Worth, where the close-knit community has a long history of supporting Veterans. We also celebrated the first anniversary of the Tuskegee Airmen TSVH. The VLB’s
newest Veterans home, named in honor of these remarkable men, is a modern facility dedicated entirely to helping Veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents in Texas. The Fort Worth home is 100,000 square feet, can serve 120 Veterans, and features a specialized memory care neighborhood. For information about becoming a resident or scheduling a tour, call the VLB Onsite Representative at (915) 691–8676 or email j.been@glo.texas.gov.
I encourage all Texans to learn more about the Tuskegee Airmen, who paved the way for racial integration in the U.S. military and served their country with steadfast perseverance.
For Texas,
Chairwoman Dawn Buckingham, M.D.
Letter from the Chairwoman: Celebrating the First Annual Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day was originally published in Texas Veterans Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
