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Nightingale Home Healthcare takes part in Inauguration
January 16, 2009 (Carmel, IN) --
When inauguration ceremonies get underway next Tuesday, a local Indiana based company will have a small part in the festivities.
Nightingale Home Healthcare's role began just last week with a phone call from one of its physical therapists, Michelle Acosta. It seems that during the course of her medical visits in the town of Richmond, Michelle had learned of a gentleman named Harry Leavell. Leavell had come to the attention of a Richmond resident, Mary Margaret Chenault when the local newspaper ran a story on the Tuskegee Airmen. Leavell is a veteran of the Tuskegee Airmen-a group of determined young men who enlisted to become America's first black military airmen in 1944. And his squadron had been invited to attend the inauguration ceremonies in Washington D.C.
Chenault and Acosta quickly determined that somehow, some way they had to raise the funds to send this local hero to Washington. With time running out, they were still short the airfare to D.C. when Acosta happened to mention their plight to Therapies Scheduling Manager, LouAnn Long at Nightingale. Because of his admiration for all veterans, Ms. Long knew exactly where to go for help, so she contacted her boss Dr. Dev Brar, president of Nightingale Home healthcare. Soon the wheels were turning to get Airman Leavell on the plane to witness the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States. In addition, not only did Nightingale fund Leavell's trip, but also provided fare for his son, Henry to accompany his father on this historic journey.
"I'm so pleased this mission came to my attention," says Brar "because not only is Mr. Leavell a veteran, which deserves recognition on its own merit, but he was part of some extra ordinary people who not only served this country but also suffered the horrors of racism. We are privileged to help veterans like him…helping all veterans is one of our main missions at Nightingale."
According to the Tuskegee Airmen website, these dedicated young men enlisted at a time when there were many people who thought that black men lacked intelligence, skill, courage and patriotism. They came from every section of the country, with large numbers coming from New York City, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and Detroit. Each one possessed a strong personal desire to serve the United States of America at the best of his ability.
Those who possessed the physical and mental qualifications were accepted as aviation cadets to be trained initially as single-engine pilots and later to be twin-engine pilots, navigators or bombardiers. Most were college graduates or undergraduates. Others demonstrated their academic qualifications through comprehensive entrance examinations.
No standards were lowered for the pilots or any of the others who trained in operations, meteorology, intelligence, engineering, medicine or any of the other officer fields. Enlisted members were trained to be aircraft and engine mechanics, armament specialists, radio technicians, parachute riggers, control tower operators, police officers, administrative clerks and all of the other skills necessary to function as an Army Air Corps flying squadron or ground support unit.
The black airmen who became single-engine or multi-engine pilots were trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF) in Tuskegee Alabama. The first aviation cadet class began in July 1941 and completed training nine months later in March 1942.
The last time the Tuskegee Airmen were invited to Washington was under President Harry Truman. There were only 900 Tuskegee Airmen at that time and as of last year, only 300 are still living. Leavell is one of only two residing in Indiana. He is 92 years old.
As stated on the Tuskegee website--These were the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. They accepted the challenge! And like these faithful few, Nightingale accepted the challenge and provided the means for this war hero to take his place of honor among his comrades next Tuesday. His family, and the entire Nightingale company will beam with pride at seeing Airman Leavell seated with respect and honor and knowing they played a small role in this historical day.
Contact:
Gary Mosier
(317) 334-7777
