"I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear".

Nelson Mandela

Congressional Gold Medal

In 2006, the Tuskegee Airmen were collectively awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their service and sacrifice to the United States during World War II. The official ceremony was held on March 29, 2007 in Washington D.C. "It's never too late for your country to say that you've done a great job for us," retired Col. Elmer D. Jones, 89, a maintenance officer during the war, said in an interview.