Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

By Alisha Pina
Journal Staff Writer

He "never believed this day would come true."

George S. Lima, 89, is a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first group of black fighter and bomber pilots in the history of the U.S. Air Corps. Their performance during World War II dispelled reservations in Washington about the ability of black airmen to fly military planes.

All the remaining airmen were invited to attend President Obama's inauguration, but health ailments forced Lima -- Rhode Island's only known Tuskegee Airman -- to stay at his East Providence home.

"I didn't want to take that chance... I can hardly walk across my living room," said Lima, who turns 90 in April. When the television station zoomed in on some of the airmen who did attend, he said, "There are my guys."

Leaning closer towards the television, he said, "Let me see if I can recognize anybody... If I was 30 years younger, I'd be there."

Silence -- with the occasional "Right on!" and "That's what I'm talking about" -- filled the room when Obama was sworn in and gave his speech. The family and friends filled the rest of the time with jokes, cheering and stories about other historic moments significant to African-Americans.

Fighting back tears, Lima's daughter-in-law Diana grabbed his hand and said, "I'm glad you got to see this."

Journal staff photo / Gretchen Ertl

 Tags  inauguration obama rhode island

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