Senator Sanders still serving the Military …Met with Tuskegee Airman on Veteran’s Day

US Marine Veteran James Sanders Jr. honored his fellow veterans with a luncheon at Applebee’s restaurant on Jamaica Avenue yesterday.  After congratulating the service men and women for their distinguished service to this great nation of ours, he proceeded directly into a brief history of Veteran’s Day, which was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in1919, as Armistice Day, and  which was later amended by congress to “Veteran’s Day” in 1938. 

In attendance was a distinguished serviceman  and Tuskegee Airman, Mr.  Julius T. Freeman of Springfield Gardens, to share his experiences.  As a trained medical technician he was assigned to the frontlines of battle in France, Italy and Germany in 1946 and was part of a segregated unit. Service women and men from every branch of service listened to Mr. Freeman  as he recounted his service years and treatment as a black man going overseas and fighting for his country.  While Mr. Freeman was fighting for freedom, human rights and liberty abroad, he recognized that his fellow brother and sisters in his own hometown were denied similar freedoms.  Mr. Freeman noted how much change both the military and our country has seen in the decades since his service and how proud he is to have served his country. 

In attendance, were also a few Purple Heart recipients from the Vietnam War; George Johnson, a veteran of the Air Force, and Lester Muse, an Army veteran; both were previously awarded the Purple Heart for fighting battles during the TET offences. 

There were more war stories told by this group of black veterans at the Senator’s luncheon, than Oliver North’s television program. There were many stories of bravery, compassion and selfless acts by these veterans.  Senator Sanders recognized all of the veterans in attendance for their acts of Courage on behalf of our great nation on this day.