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MEDIA -- When the three-person Pennsylvania Veterans Museum team chose the Tuskegee Airmen as the subject for an exhibit and film, little did they know it would lead to the highest offices in the nation’s capital. That was the outcome of the museum’s affiliation with this now heralded group of African-American flyers, navigators and ground crew who held a singular position of fighting enemies abroad and racism at home during World War II.

The Tuskegee Airmen were presented the Congressional Gold Medal on March 29 -- the highest civilian honor to be bestowed by the United States government.

The museum had become highly involved with a few local airmen and the larger organization. The documentary film, "On Freedom’s Wing, Bound for Glory," was produced by the museum and debuted in 2006.

It tells the story of the airmen through firsthand accounts of Lt. Col. Lee Archer, Col. Charles McGee and Capt. Luther H. Smith of Villanova, Delaware County’s only known Tuskegee Airman. The film and accompanying curriculum are part of the museum’s education mission.

First given in 1776 to George Washington, the Congressional Gold Medal has been awarded to more than 150 individuals and groups.

This year, more than 300 veterans, 80 to 90 years old, their families and guests were invited to Washington, D.C., to receive the award.

At the beginning of March, the White House gave Congress three weeks notice President George W. Bush would be available for the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. Museum Executive Secretary Bob McMahon, Executive Director Joanna Murphy and Assistant Director JoAnne Schultze sprang into action, as well.

The ceremony was a critical part of the Tuskegee story -- 63 years in making, and, as many airmen have said, "long overdue." McMahon knew the museum staff had to be there.

"The museum was invited to use two cameras to film the event for the completion of our documentary," said McMahon. "Our role in the two weeks before the event grew from filming to supplying full logistic support for the day, because neither Congress nor the White House are permitted to do so."

Only the congressional leadership was officially invited and there in full, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Byrd. Even McMahon seemed surprised there appeared to be no funding for transportation or extras. The speaker’s office did, however, hold a post-ceremony reception at the Library of Congress.

Transport and security were particularly challenging, given the age of most airmen and, in some cases, their fragile condition. The Capitol Police liaison knew having all the airmen and guests stream into the Capitol Building in an unorganized fashion was a recipe for chaos.

McMahon worked with a transportation company and coordinated with the police to screen everyone upon leaving the hotel where more than 400 people enjoyed a breakfast sponsored by PECO Energy and Conoco Phillips Refinery. Between all the locations, McMahon figures there were about 3,000 total trips provided.

"If each airman and guest had to make their own arrangement, it would have never happened," McMahon said, adding that throughout the process, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., was extremely helpful as a"troubleshooter."

With limited tickets available for the event itself (although there were far more spectators in the Capitol Rotunda than anticipated), McMahon had to finesse admittance for the other museum staff. Murphy, of Springfield, found herself in a highly enviable and exalted position of becoming a backup for the White House photographer. She was one of only three photographers given access to the balcony of Statuary Hall and other restricted locations under the watchful eyes of Secret Service and Capitol Police.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness history, and an honor to be around these men," she said.

McMahon said being part event was a gratifying experience. "Moving forward, we made some great contacts for the museum. Through the Tuskegee Airmen and their story, we have the opportunity to spread our educational program throughout Pennsylvania and beyond," He said. "We had several people very interested in the curriculum to be used in schools in other parts of the country. And there couldn’t be a better group of gentlemen than the Tuskegee Airmen to teach World War II history."

©DelcoTimes 2007